Shooter purchased ‘tracer rounds’ for better shooting accuracy, prior to deadly Las Vegas massacre

Stephen Paddock, the man who sprayed bullets upon a crowd of concertgoers in Las Vegas on Sunday, apparently purchased tracer ammo at a Phoenix-area gun show prior to the mass shooting that killed 59 people and injured over 500 others.

CNN reports that tracer ammunitions are types of bullets that provide an illuminated trace once a round is fired, providing shooters higher accuracy when shooting in the dark. Authorities reported that Paddock met a man at the Phoenix gun show and bought 1,000 round of tracer ammunition on Sept. 9 and 10. Police found tracer ammunition in his hotel room, but it’s unclear if he actually used the bullets when shooting at concertgoers.

However, according to retired FBI supervisory special agent, James Gagliano, the shooter likely didn’t use tracer rounds, as the brightness of the rounds would have probably given away his exact location.

“The barrel of the rifle — we could not see muzzle flashes, from the angles I’ve seen on videos, which meant that he was … pulled back inside.”

Along with tracer ammunition found in Paddock’s hotel room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, authorities found 1,600 rounds of ammunition inside his car. Based on the evidence in his car, authorities said Paddock probably had plans to survive and flee. SWAT teams later found his dead after surrounding his room, giving him nowhere to turn.

According to Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo, there was other evidence found that indicated Paddock had no plans of killing himself and every intention of trying to escape. Lombardo declined to list the additional evidence, but did state the pink slip found in Paddock’s room was not a suicide note, despite previous reports. He also mentioned that Paddock set up cameras inside and outside of room to keep tabs on police.

“He was doing everything possible to see how he could escape at this point,” Lombardo said.

Check back with CrimeOnline as we continue to provide updates on the Las Vegas massacre.

[Feature Photo: Police Handout]