Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson says that the shooter in the deadly massacre in Las Vegas used a "weapon of mass destruction".

"This is a weapon, and a man, of mass destruction," Mr Wolfson said during a press briefing.

"This was a classic WMD. This was a weapon and a man of mass destruction,” he said. “This doesn’t involve politics. All of us are Nevadans. We’re working to get through this.”

At least 58 people were killed and 515 more injured after a gunman shot an automatic rifle at concert-goers Sunday night, according to Las Vegas police. Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo said that police believe the suspected gunman had used a "device similar to a hammer" to break the windows in the 32nd floor hotel room from which the shooter targeted victims below.

Police have identified 64-year-old Stephen Paddock as the gunman, and have said that he took his own life before police were able to apprehend him. Paddock lived northeast of the city in Mesquite, where he owned a home in a retirement community. It wasn't immediately clear what may have motivated Paddock to open fire on the concert-goers.

"This is a crazed lunatic full of hate. We don’t know much about his background," Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said. "But it’s certainly not an extension about what we believe in."

Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting – in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting – in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting – in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA

Las Vegas police dispatch first began receiving emergency calls reporting gunfire at the hotel just after 10 pm local time. Paddock was able to shoot at his victims down below at a country music concert for several minutes, according ot reports. He had at least eight guns in his hotel room.