Was Life Is Beautiful Festival the Las Vegas Shooter’s Original Target?
Stephen Paddock, the shooter who killed at least 59 people at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas on Sunday night, may have originally targeted the city’s Life Is Beautiful the previous weekend, the Daily Beast reported Tuesday, citing an unnamed senior law enforcement source, which it says is not directly involved in the investigation but has been briefed on its progress. NBC News made a similar report, also citing an unnamed law enforcement source.
Paddock rented “multiple condos” overlooking the annual festival, which was headlined by Chance the Rapper, Lorde and Wiz Khalifa and drew around 50,000 people each of its three days, the reports say. The Daily Beast contacted the Ogden, a 21-story condominium with a line of sight to the concert-grounds. A rep for the owner said “We’re not in a position to confirm or deny anything about Mr. Paddock’s dealings. I suggest you contact Metro [police]. As you know this is an ongoing investigation.” Life is Beautiful organizer Justin Weniger declined NBC’s request for comment, saying the investigation was ongoing.
At a news conference Tuesday, Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo said he could not confirm whether Paddock had eyed the Life is Beautiful gathering.
The Daily Beast’s source suggested that Paddock either lost his nerve or changed his plans to focus on the Route 91 Harvest festival instead.
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