United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Mandalay Bay Hotel disputes new police timeline of shooting rampage
Mandalay Bay Hotel owner MGM has gone on the defensive and is disputing the official police line over what happened and when, just prior to the deadly mass shooting.
A new police account of the moments before the shooting say unarmed hotel security guard Jesus Campos was shot by gunman Stephen Paddock six minutes before the attack took place.
Paddock fired 200 bullets in the hall, raising questions about the hotel’s response to an active shooter on site.
This contradicts earlier police statements which said the security guard was shot after Paddock’s shooting rampage on a concert crowd.
Police said a wounded Campos did call in the initial shooting to hotel security officials several minutes earlier than originally thought, but the hotel seems to dispute this.
"We cannot be certain about the most recent timeline that has been communicated publicly and we believe what is currently being expressed may not be accurate," said MGM spokeswoman Debra DeShong.
"As evidenced by law enforcement briefings over the past week, many facts are still unverified and continue to change as events are under review.
The new revelation has raised questions about the actions of police and hotel security and whether either could have responded quicker.
Attorney Richard Patterson, who is representing the families of several victims, accused the hotel of negligence, and also took aim at the concert organizers.
"We are talking six minutes here. This is amazing and shocking that they didn’t respond faster. I think everybody’s question is, what if they had gotten there?" Patterson said.
"There are high-speed elevators to the 32nd floor. A couple of minutes make all the difference. At the very least, they could have distracted the killer, maybe they could have prevented it."
Another worrying aspect for the hotel is the apparent news Paddock had free access to the back of house service elevator, ABC News reported.
This may explain how he got such a large stockpile of weapons into his room without raising any suspicion.
Use of the service elevator is a perk for big spending high rollers.
Related News Stories: Port Canaveral ditches cruise terminal development plan American Airlines mechanic jailed for attempting to smuggle cocaine Kissimmee attractions reopen after hurricane Marriott - TravelMole Alaska Airlines flight in emergency landing after losing tire American hails tentative approval of San Antonio - Washington ... South Korea wants to build its own Hallyu Hollywood Intrax acquires UK based Gap 360 Outrigger Kona Resort completes $60 million renovation False active shooter alert causes panic at Disney
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Storm Lilian travel chaos as bank holiday flights cancelled