Las Vegas shooter's family 'shocked' and 'dumbfounded,' says he must have 'snapped'

REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus

The family of Stephen Craig Paddock, the man police say is behind the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, told the Daily Mail on Monday that they are "dumbfounded" over the circumstances.

"He was just a guy. Something happened, he snapped," said Paddock's brother, Eric.

Eric, who lived in Orlando, Florida, said "we know absolutely nothing," about Paddock's motivations or situation prior to the shooting.

"We are dumbfounded. ... Our condolences go to the victims and all their families," he said.

Eric said that he lives down the street from his mother. Eric said he didn't have a close relationship with his brother, but spoke with him from time to time. He said there was "no rhyme or reason" he could find in the tragic shooting. 

Paddock opened fire around 10 p.m. local time from the window of the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, which was across the street from the Route 91 Harvest festival where about 22,000 people were enjoying country music.

With sustained bursts of automatic rifle fire, Paddock killed more than 50 people and sent more than 400 to the hospital in the worst mass shooting in recorded US history. Paddock had several rifles in his room when police entered.

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