Las Vegas, Nevada REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus
Las víctimas mortales por el tiroteo indiscriminado contra los asistentes a un concierto de música country en Las Vegas asciende ya a al menos 50, mientras que los heridos superan los dos centenares, informaron las autoridades.
El jefe de la Policía Metropolitana de Las Vegas, Joe Lombardo, actualizó en una rueda de prensa el número de víctimas del ataque e indicó que el presunto autor del tiroteo, que llevó a cabo su ataque desde el piso 32 de un hotel cercano, ha sido identificado, reseñó Efe.
Foto David Becker/Getty Images/AFP
El jefe de la Policía Metropolitana de Las Vegas, Joe Lombardo, informó en una rueda de prensa de que se trata de una cifra provisional de víctimas e indicó que el presunto autor del tiroteo fue abatido posteriormente por los agentes en un hotel cercano desde el que efectuó los disparos.
El tiroteo tuvo lugar en el cierre de los tres días del festival country “Route 91 Harvest”, que tenía lugar al aire libre junto al hotel Mandalay Bay, en la zona sur de la famosa avenida que concentra los principales hoteles y casinos de Las Vegas.
Según Lombardo, el sospechoso actuó en solitario y llevó a cabo su ataque desde el piso 32 del hotel Mandalay Bay, donde fue encontrado por la policía y fue abatido por los disparos de los agentes.
Sobre su identidad, Lombardo se limitó a decir que se trata de un residente local, sin dar más detalles, y sólo confirmó que la policía busca a la acompañante del atacante, que identificó como una mujer asiática llamada Marilou Danley.
“Confirmamos que un sospechoso ha sido abatido. Esta investigación sigue en marcha”, había asegurado poco antes en su cuenta de Twitter la Policía, que dijo que creían que el sujeto actuaba solo, lo que desmentía informaciones anteriores de los medios locales que apuntaban a dos posibles atacantes.
Poco después del tiroteo, la policía ordenó el cierre de una amplia sección del sur del bulevar Las Vegas, que sirve de columna vertebral a la ciudad y es conocido por la sucesión de hoteles y casinos que hay en él, así como varias calles adyacentes de la zona.
“Estamos investigando informes de un tirador activo cerca de Mandalay Bay Casino. Pedimos a todos que por favor eviten el área”, dijo la Policía Metropolitana de Las Vegas en su cuenta de Twitter alertando de suceso al tiempo que cerraba las calles de la zona.
Al lugar acudieron inmediatamente decenas de coches policiales, a los que se sumó un equipo de agentes especiales de acción rápida (SWAT) para dar con el autor del ataque.
El tiroteo se produjo hacia las 22.00 horas locales (05.00 GMT del lunes) mientras el cantante de country Jason Aldean actuaba en la jornada de cierre del festival de música country.
Según los testigos, hacia esa hora se escucharon largas ráfagas de disparos efectuados posiblemente con un fusil semiautomático, que provocaron el pánico entre los asistentes y que continuaron incluso después de que la banda del artista dejara de tocar.
En algunos vídeos publicados en las redes sociales se pueden escuchar ráfagas de disparos mientras se ve a la gente correr despavorida, de pie preguntándose qué sucede o tirada sobre la hierba protegiéndose de los disparos.
Entre los muertos hay varios policías fuera de servicio que asistían al concierto, según Lombardo, y se teme que entre los heridos haya más agentes, porque habían ido en grupo.
Los heridos fueron trasladados en ambulancias principalmente al Centro Médico de la Universidad y al Sunrise Hospital Medical Center, donde muchos de ellos se encuentran en situación crítica.
Debido al incidente, además del cierre de la zona sur de la ciudad y de una carretera, varios vuelos con destino al aeropuerto internacional de Las Vegas fueron desviados a otras terminales como medida de precaución. EFE
Fotos AFP y Reuters
LAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 01: A body lies under a sheet as fire and rescue personnel gather at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Ave. after a mass shooting at a country music festival nearby on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 100 injured. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot. The investigation is ongoing. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 02: A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officer stands in the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Ave. after a mass shooting at a country music festival nearby on October 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 100 injured. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot. The investigation is ongoing. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 01: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers stand near an ambulance as medical personnel treat a person in the parking lot of the Hooters Casino Hotel after a mass shooting at a country music festival nearby on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 100 injured. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot. The investigation is ongoing. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 02: An ambulance leaves the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Ave. after a mass shooting at a country music festival nearby on October 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 100 injured. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot. The investigation is ongoing. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 02: A banner hangs on the fence in the shadow of the Luxor Hotel & Casino at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after a active shooter was reported on October 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 100 injured. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot. The investigation is ongoing. David Becker/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 02: Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after a active shooter was reported on October 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 100 injured. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot. The investigation is ongoing. David Becker/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 02: An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival nearby on October 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, killing over 20 people. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot dead. The investigation is ongoing. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 01: A man lays on top of a woman as others flee the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after a active shooter was reported on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving at least 2 people dead. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot. The investigation is ongoing. David Becker/Getty Images/AFPLas Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. October 1, 2017. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYA pair of cowboy boots is shown in the street outside the concert venue after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. October 1, 2017. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve MarcusPeople run outside the Mandalay Bay Hotel after a gunman opened fire on attendees of the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas, U.S., October 1, 2017 in this still image obtained from social media video. TWITTER/ @MORGANDBAMBI via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT.NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVESPeople flee outside the Mandalay Bay Hotel after a gunman opened fire on attendees of the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas, U.S., October 1, 2017 in this still image obtained from social media video. TWITTER @EIRIKURH via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT.NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. NO NEW USES AFTER OCTOBER 25, 2017 1000GMTLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 01: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content.) A person lies on the ground covered with blood at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after apparent gun fire was heard on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. There are reports of an active shooter around the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. David Becker/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 01: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains graphic content.) People carry a peson at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after apparent gun fire was heard on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. There are reports of an active shooter around the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. David Becker/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 02: A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 100 injured. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot. The investigation is ongoing. David Becker/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 01: People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after apparent gun fire was heard on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 100 injured. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot. The investigation is ongoing. David Becker/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 01: People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after apparent gun fire was hear on October 1, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 100 injured. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot. The investigation is ongoing. David Becker/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 02: Police officers stand by as medical personnel tend to a person on Tropicana Ave. near Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival nearby on October 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada .A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving over 20 people dead. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot. The investigation is ongoing. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFPLAS VEGAS, NV – OCTOBER 02: Police officers point their weapons at a car driving down closed Tropicana Ave. near Las Vegas Boulevard after a reported mass shooting at a country music festival nearby on October 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A gunman has opened fire on a music festival in Las Vegas, leaving at least 2 people dead. Police have confirmed that one suspect has been shot. The investigation is ongoing. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFPATTENTION EDITORS – VISUAL COVERAGE OF SCENES OF INJURY OR DEATH A body is covered with a sheet in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. October 1, 2017. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus TPX IMAGES OF THE DAYAn ambulance leaves the concert venue after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. October 1, 2017. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve MarcusLas Vegas Metro Police officers gather near the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. early October 2, 2017. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve MarcusLas Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. October 1, 2017. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve MarcusLas Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. October 1, 2017. REUTERS/Las Vegas Sun/Steve MarcusPeople react at gunshots heard at music festival in Las Vegas, U.S., October 1, 2017 in this picture obtained from social media. @RTBLECKvia REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT.NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
