Las Vegas Shooting: What The Unsealed Documents Reveal

LAS VEGAS, NV - Hundreds of pages of search warrant documents related to the Las Vegas shooting were unsealed on Friday, revealing probes of federal investigators into gunman Stephen Paddock’s life as well as the potential involvement of his live-in girlfriend, Marilou Danley. The unsealed documents are comprised of search warrants filed between Oct. 3 and Oct. 13 requesting access to Paddock’s home, multiple Instagram accounts, email accounts, an Amazon shopping account, and a cellphone found inside the 32nd-floor Mandalay Bay suite where he carried out the deadly attack.

Prosecutors proclaim in the documents that the affidavits “contain information necessary to support probable cause to believe that the criminal offenses described herein were committed by Stephen Paddock and others yet unidentified.”

The documents state that Paddock fired from rooms 134 and 135 of the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay. Investigators used “witness statements and video footage captured” to determine that automatic gunfire was used in the attack. The documents say that “hundreds” of rounds of spent ammunition were found in the rooms.

The search warrants confirmed much of what was already known about the investigation, such as the size of arsenal Paddock compiled and the presence of explosive material found inside his vehicle.

The warrants also reveal new information such as an email exchange discussing AR-15 rifles and the FBI’s degree of interest into what role Danley might have played in the event.

Here’s what we learned from reviewing the documents:

Marilou Danley has been a focal point of investigators

The search warrants name Danley as “the most likely person who aided or abetted Stephen Paddock” after she told investigators that it’s likely her fingerprints would be found on the bullets used in the massacre.

In interviews with law enforcement, Danley volunteered information that she frequently loaded magazines for Paddock’s guns, but was “adamant” that she had no prior knowledge of his plans. Danley’s casino player’s card was found inside Paddock’s hotel room.

Danley’s confession to investigators led to a second warrant of the Mesquite home, filed Oct. 7, in which Danley’s involvement was described as “still the subject of intensive review.”

Danley, who was in the Philippines at the time, changed her online presence in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Documents reveal that her Facebook account was set to private at 12:30 a.m. and was later deleted at 2:46 a.m. on Oct. 2. Paddock began shooting shortly after 10 p.m. on Oct. 1.

The search warrants sought to obtain information from an email account belonging to Danley as well as four Instagram accounts possibly belonging to her. Investigators said that information obtained through Paddock and Danley’s email accounts could “potentially identify other participants in the attack” and reveal Danley’s “possible involvement,” documents show.

On Oct. 13., Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo held a press conference stating “I feel confident there are no other individuals meaning to cause harm.”

Paddock emailed someone about guns during the summer leading up to the shooting

On July 6, Paddock sent an email from the account “centralpark1@live.com” to the address “centralpark4804@gmail.com” discussing guns and ammunition.

The email Paddock sent read, “try an ar before u buy. we have a huge selection. located in the las vegas area.” An AR-15 rifle was found among the guns in Paddock’s suite. He received an email back from the account that read, “We have a wide variety of optics and ammunition to try.” Paddock later emailed back, saying, “for a thrill try out bumpfire ar’s with a 100 round magazine.”

Investigators learned that Paddock once managed an apartment complex in Reno, NV, called Central Park and have attempted to determine why Paddock was communicating between two email addresses that he seemingly operated. Investigators believe the line of communication may be related to the shooting.

Paddock also sent an email to Danley a week before the attack on Sept. 25, discussing his $100,000 money transfer to her.

Investigators say Paddock extensively planned attack, including thwarting ensuing investigation

The search warrant of Paddock’s home says that “investigators learned that Paddock planned the attack meticulously and took many methodical steps to avoid detection of his plot and to thwart the eventual law enforcement investigation that would follow.”

The warrant says that he destroyed online evidence and used “anonymously attributed communication devices.” It also says that Paddock spent extensive time in the planning stages, assembling the weapons and related devices, such as a glass cutter, Tannerite, suitcases, and a pre-paid cellphone.

On Sept. 7, Paddock received an email about an item he purchased from Amazon.com. The item was a EoTech 512.A65 Tactical Holographic sight for a weapon that investigators believe Paddock used.

Investigators also believe Paddock may have been treated for an unidentified medical condition.

Paddock had three phones with him inside the Mandalay Bay suite

The sweep of Paddock’s Mandalay Bay suite turned up three cellphones that investigators believe all belong to him. Two of the phones were unlocked and examined, but were found to contain no evidence to the shooting. The third phone was unable to be opened, and investigators believe he may have been trying to hide something on it.

The search warrant requested that Google grant the FBI permission to access the phone.

What's next?

A hearing for a lawsuit filed by several media companies against the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was held on Tuesday. The lawsuit seeks the release of more documents related to the shooting investigation. A judge's decision could come within a week.

Image via Gregory Bull/Associated Press