What happened at the concert venue

Videos showed concertgoers running frantically here as multiple rounds of gunfire were being shot. People took cover under the bleachers. Vehicles stopped to pick up victims and carry them away. LAS VEGAS BLVD. E. RENO AVE. V.I.P. area FESTIVAL GROUNDS 200 FEET CROWD MAIN STAGE MANDALAY BAY RD. People fled in this direction GILES ST. NORTH Many victims lay on an area covered with synthetic grass. A video showed people climbing over a fence about eight feet tall. Multiple victims were brought here on metal security barriers, used as makeshift stretchers. Videos showed concertgoers running frantically here as multiple rounds of gunfire were being shot. LAS VEGAS BLVD. V.I.P. area 2 FESTIVAL GROUNDS MAIN STAGE CROWD 1 200 FEET GILES ST. 6 3 5 4 People fled in this direction NORTH By The New York Times

1Videos showed chaos unfolding among concertgoers, while multiple rounds were being fired. 2People took cover under the bleachers. 3Many victims lay on an area covered with synthetic grass. 4A video showed people climbing over a fence about eight feet tall. 5Multiple victims were brought here on metal security barriers, used as makeshift stretchers. 6Vehicles stopped to pick up victims and carry them away.

Police officers told people to take cover near the festival grounds. Sunday night’s performance was the festival’s last scheduled show.

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Bloodied victims were seen lying on the ground at the festival.

David Becker/Getty Images

Concertgoers described hearing round after round of gunfire. “This shooting was going on for at least 10 minutes,” said Jake Owen, a country singer who was on stage with Mr. Aldean when the shooting began.

A Frantic Search for the Gunman

[The account below is based primarily on recordings of police communications, captured by Broadcastify.com and some individuals.]

At 10:08 p.m., an officer on the scene sounds the alarm. “We got shots fired,” he says. “Sounds like an automatic firearm.”

There is confusion over the next few minutes as officers arrive to scenes of death and mayhem.

“It’s coming from upstairs in the Mandalay Bay. Upstairs in the Mandalay Bay, halfway up I see the shots coming from Mandalay Bay, halfway up.”

“We have an active shooter — we have an active shooter inside the fairgrounds!”

At 10:12 p.m., the scale of the attack becomes more clear as an officer, using law-enforcement shorthand for gunshot wounds, reports in an agitated voice: “We have multiple casualties. G.S.W.’s in the medical tent. Multiple casualties!”

But the confusion over the source of the gunshots continues:

“Shots are coming from Gate 7.”

“We’re in front of Mandalay Bay. We’re trying to see where the shots are coming from. If anyone can advise if they’re coming from Mandalay.”

“It sounds like it’s either Mandalay or Luxor, we cannot tell.”

At 10:13 p.m., the manhunt begins to focus.

“It’s coming from like the 50th or 60th floor, north of the Mandalay Bay! It’s coming out a window.”

“We’re seeing local flashes in the middle of Mandalay Bay on the north side, kind of on the west tower but towards the center of the casino, like one of the middle floors.”

The gunman had smashed two windows that have a broad view of the festival ground, the sheriff said later at a news conference.

John Locher/Associated Press

Even with pandemonium on the streets, one officer has clearly identified where the shooting is coming from:

“I’m inside the Mandalay Bay on the 31st floor, I can hear the automatic fire coming from one floor ahead, one floor above us.”

“Repeating, just be advised it is automatic fire. Fully automatic fire from an elevated position. Take cover.”

“That is correct, it’s fully automatic fire. I’m right below it.”

Outside, frustration grows.

“We’re taking gunfire. It’s going right over our heads. There’s debris coming over our heads. We’re pinned down here with a bunch of civilians.”

“We can’t worry about victims, we need to snuff the shooter before we have more victims! Anybody have eyes on him, on this shooter?”

“Hey officers, please stay calm, just relax, we’re trying to get this set up.”

By 10:20 p.m., there are some indications the shooting has stopped, although it is not clear.

“It’s been awhile since we’ve heard any shots. Does anybody have eyes on the shooter?”

A later transmission indicates that the shooting may have ended about 10:25.

At 10:24 p.m., officers report from the stairwell just outside the gunman’s door.

“I’m on the 32nd floor. The room is going to be 135.”

“It’s room 135 on the 32nd floor. I need the SWAT.”

At 10:28 p.m., as SWAT teams gather on the 32nd floor and the 29th floor, where there have been erroneous reports of another gunman, an officer says that a hotel security officer has been shot.

The gunman was at one point in a large suite on the 32nd floor, with windows facing the concert grounds. The diagram below shows the typical floor plan.

By The New York Times

Over the next 50 minutes, officers secure the floor and ready several SWAT teams.

At about 11:20 p.m., they explode a door-breaching device, and enter to find the suspect dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The man, who was later identified as Stephen Paddock, 64, had an arsenal of firearms in the room, officials said.

About the Hotel

The Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino anchors the southern tip of a row of luxury hotels on Las Vegas Boulevard known as the Strip. It is the first major casino north of the famous “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign.