Las Vegas shooting gunman Stephen Paddock had 23 guns and thousands of bullets in his hotel room
THIS is the lair from which Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock launched his deadly attack having stashed at least 42 guns in the Mandalay Bay hotel room and at his home.
Photographs have now revealed the view that Paddock would have had of the 22,000 concert-goers below him as he unleashed a deadly hail of bullets.
Authorities found 23 guns, including a handgun in his hotel room and 19 firearms at his home in Mesquite, Nevada.
The crazed gunman used hammers to smash the windows of his 32nd-floor hotel room and launch his killing spree.
After terrified witnesses desperately called emergency services, police were quick to act - swarming on the hotel room on Sunday night.
Officers could be heard whispering before using explosives to storm into the hotel room 32135, on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay resort, to find the man's body as well as an arsenal of weapons.
And more details have now emerged about the terrifying array of firepower the mass murderer had stashed.
Among them were two rifles with scopes on tripods positioned in front of the two windows that had been broken out, a law enforcement official said.
The weapons – some full automatic – included AR-15-style and AK-47-type rifles as well as a huge cache of ammo, according to an official quoted by the .
And Sheriff of Clark County, Joe Lombardo revealed that even more deadly equipment was found at the killer’s home.
He told reporters: "We retrieved in excess of 18 additional firearms, some explosives and several thousand rounds of ammo along with some electronic items we are evaluating.”
Christopher Sullivan – a gun shop manager from Mesquite, Nevada, where Paddock lived – said shooter bought a handgun and two rifles within the last year.
The shop, Guns and Guitars, has since issued a statement insisting the killer never seemed “unstable or unfit” and that all the necessary background checks were done.
Sullivan said: "We mourn for this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the lost and injured.
"Mr. Paddock was a customer and purchased firearms from our store; however, all necessary background checks and procedures were followed, as required by local, state and federal law.
"He never gave any indication or reason to believe he was unstable or unfit at any time. We are currently cooperating with the ongoing investigation by local and federal law enforcement in any way we can."
The company also offered “thoughts and prayers” to victims of the tragedy.
In audio released to US media, SWAT teams could be heard speaking to each other before bursting into the room to stop the shooter, saying they needed everyone in the hallway to move back.
One officer can be heard saying: "We need to pop this and see if we get any further response from this guy to see if he's in here or if he's actually moved somewhere else."
An "explosive breach" can then be heard.
Paddock's body was found in the room, with the shooter believed to have taken his own life.
Police are now desperately trying to figure out what motivated Paddock to target the thousands of innocent festival-goers.
Police have revealed at least 58 people were killed in the attack, making it the worst in America's modern history.
At least 515 people were injured after bullets echoed across the Route 91 country music festival.
IS claimed responsibility for the attack — saying the gunman was a recent convert to Islam.
But cops and the FBI said there was no evidence to support this.
An Australian man said his room was next-door to the shooter. He described the massacre was one of the most terrifying moments of his life.
He told : "There were people screaming and running. We ran into a nearby hallway and ended up in the casino's kitchen.
"We could just hear bullets being fired and then we could see the bright lights of helicopters flying over the top of us."
He said he saw SWAT teams descend on the hotel, saying: "They were in the full police gear and we could just see torches, and guns and they were yelling at everybody to 'stay down' or 'put their hands up'."
He said he was glad he hadn't made it back to his room, which was 32134.
Paddock had been staying in the room since September 28, with police saying he had used Marilou Danley's identification.
He did not check into the room with the 62-year-old woman, who police have revealed is overseas.
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Luxury lair of gun fiend
PADDOCK checked into his corner suite at the Mandalay Bay hotel last Thursday.
It is thought he stayed in a large room — possibly a £500-a-night media suite.
These come complete with 2,170 square feet of space, including a large sitting room, separate bedroom and two bathrooms. They also boast a 65in plasma TV and state-of-the-art surround sound system.
According to the Mandalay website, these suites have been “perfectly remodelled for inspired relaxation and entertainment”.
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