The brother of Stephen Paddock, the suspected gunman in the Las Vegas shooting that killed more than 50 people, has said that his family have been left stunned by the news.



“We have no idea. We're horrified. We're bewildered and our condolences go out to the victims,” Eric Paddock said in a brief telephone interview with Reuters, his voice trembling. “We have no idea in the world.”

Mr Paddock also said his now-deceased brother was "not an avid gun guy at all".

Las Vegas shooting: What we know so far

Police believe Mr Paddock shot himself just ahead of their arrival. He allegedly shot down from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Hotel at a crowd of 22,000 people attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival on the famous Vegas Strip.

Country music star Jason Aldean was performing on stage at the time of the shooting, around 10 pm local time.

Mr Paddock is from Mesquite, Nevada approximately 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas and lived in a retirement community there.

The New York Times has reported he was known to Las Vegas police, but only for a routine traffic violation. He was not known to the Mesquite police at all, according to Quinn Averett, a spokesman for the Mesquite police.

Mr Paddock had over ten rifles in his hotel room, where he had reportedly checked in three or four days ago, according to Sheriff Joseph Lombardo. Police also said they believe he had a "device like a hammer" to smash the windows of the room in order to shoot.

Police are set to search Mr Paddock's residence as well.

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 have not called this a terrorism event, however it may qualify as one under Nevada state law.

The law defines terrorism in the state as any event that "is intended to...cause great bodily harm or death to the general population."

There have been reports that terror group Isis has been celebrating the event on their channels, but that is not an indication it was directly involved.

Police questioed a women believed to be a companion of Mr Paddock's, Marlilou Danley, but have since cleared her of any involvement in the shooting.

Mr Paddock's alleged motive is unknown as well as whether there were any other people involved in the planning and commission of this heinous crime.

His brother, getting emotional, said his family felt like "an asteroid fell out of the sky" after hearing about Mr Paddock's involvement and death.

Eric said Mr Paddock was fond of gambling and country music, but had no real "religious affiliation, no political affiliation."

"The fact that he had those kinds of weapons is just ... where the hell did he get automatic weapons? He has no military background or anything like that," he added, speaking to CBS News in Orlando, Florida.

"He was just a guy...he snapped or something."