Gunman had stayed at high-rise overlooking another Las Vegas music festival

By Adam Candee

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017 | 12:35 p.m.

The gunman in Sunday’s massacre at the Route 91 Harvest Festival near Mandalay Bay had stayed in a downtown high-rise in the days leading up to the Life is Beautiful festival in September.

Stephen Paddock stayed in multiple rooms at the Ogden — a 21-story residential building that overlooks the festival grounds a block away — over the course of a few days in mid-September, prior to the three-day music and arts event.

Paddock departed the Ogden after the conclusion of the festival’s last day on Sept. 24, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said he was unable to answer a question Tuesday about whether Paddock intended to target Life is Beautiful. Asked if authorities explored whether any evidence exists of targets other than Route 91, Lombardo said no.

Paddock, 64, killed 59 people and injured 507 more Sunday evening when he opened fire on the country music event across the street from a 32nd-floor room at Mandalay Bay. He arrived at Mandalay Bay on Sept. 28 and stayed there through the evening of the attack.

Authorities have not yet determined a motive for the crime, though many aspects of Paddock’s financial transactions and gambling habits continue to draw interest.

When Paddock’s home in Reno was raided, representatives from Nevada’s gaming regulatory authority worked in coordination with law enforcement to obtain evidence related to Paddock’s reported penchant for casinos.

Paddock’s girlfriend, Marilou Danley, returned from the Philippines to the United States late Tuesday evening and remains a person of interest for law enforcement. They planned to interview her as soon as possible.

Paddock reportedly transferred $100,000 to the Philippines in the days prior to his attack.