FBI Wraps Up Its Investigation; Still Has No Idea Why Vegas Shooter Did It

Stephen Paddock killed 58 people in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history for “infamy,” but FBI investigators could not uncover any motive beyond that, the FBI told the Associated Press.

“It wasn’t about MGM, Mandalay Bay or a specific casino or venue,” FBI special agent Aaron Rouse, who runs the investigative agency’s Las Vegas office, told the AP. “It was all about doing the maximum amount of damage and him obtaining some form of infamy.”

Paddock acted alone without any apparent personal animus or motivating political or ideological belief. He did not leave behind any explanation, manifesto or suicide note, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

“Throughout his life, Paddock went to great lengths to keep his thoughts private, and that extended to his final thinking about this mass murder,” a 3-page summary of the FBI’s findings stated, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Active shooters rarely have a singular motive or reason for engaging in a mass homicide.”

Paddock opened fire on a crowd of concert-goers in Las Vegas on Oct. 17, 2017. He set up a 23-gun armory in a Mandalay Bay casino suite with a view overlooking the Strip and the Route 91 Harvest Festival.

Paddock used a Mandalay Bay service elevator to stock his room with firepower. Because of his substantial gambling habits, Paddock received special treatment at the casino and employees rarely questioned him as he carried bags and cases up to his room.

Paddock fired roughly 1,000 shots into a crowd of roughly 22,000 over the course of about 10 minutes. He killed 58 and wounded about 900 more. He shot and killed himself before police were able to apprehend him.