FBI Say Las Vegas Gunman Stephen Paddock Was Not Connected to ISIS

Bureau has “determined to this point no connection of an international terrorist group,” FBI special agent Aaron Rouse says

stephen paddock
Twitter

Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock’s motive still remains a mystery, however, the FBI is officially ruling out terrorism, the Associated Press reported Monday morning.

The latest tweet from AP updates an earlier post saying that ISIS had claimed responsibility for the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, while noting that the claim was unsubstantiated.

In a brief statement, FBI special agent Aaron Rouse said the bureau had “determined to this point no connection of an international terrorist group,” the Independent reported.

On Sunday evening, 64-year-old Paddock opened fire at a crowd of 22,000 people from the 32d floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas. When it was over, the rampage left at least 58 dead and more than 500 injured.

 

The FBI declaration brings into line claims made by the gunman’s brother, Eric Paddock, who told CBS News and other outlets that he was stunned by his brother’s actions and that they were completely out of character for him.

“He was not an avid gun guy at all. The fact that he has those kind of weapons is just, where the hell did he get automatic weapons?”  said Eric when talking to CBS reporters. “He has no military background.”

While the FBI declared the ISIS ties fake news, it may be too late, as the suggestion was widely picked up on Twitter among influencers in Conservative media.

Comments