Police seek motive after Las Vegas shooter kills at least 58

Last updated: October 4, 2017 at 09:01 am

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The man behind the worst mass shooting in modern US history had an arsenal of at least 42 guns, explosives and several thousand rounds of ammo, police said.

Officers recovered 19 firearms, explosives and ammo from Stephen Paddock's home in Mesquite, Nevada, hours after discovering 23 guns in the Las Vegas hotel room from which he killed 58 concertgoers.

This number has been revised down from 59 after police confirmed his death had been included in the numbers.

Yesterday, police also found several pounds of ammonium nitrate, a chemical used to make explosives, in the 64-year-old's car.

Some of the firearms recovered from his hotel room had scopes, while two were reportedly modified to make them fully automatic.

Las Vegas Police Department said officers were searching another home owned by Paddock in Reno, Nevada, adding that authorities were still unclear about the gunman's motive.

WATCH: Singer Jason Aldean runs from stage as bullets begin to fly

"I can't get into the mind of a psychopath at this point," sheriff Joe Lombardo said.

Detectives have described Paddock as a "lone wolf" and dismissed speculation there were more assailants.

SWAT teams found the retired accountant dead in his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel.

No decisions on gun laws

Paddock's brother said he was "not an avid gun guy" and claimed he had become a multi-millionaire through real estate investments.

In a televised address, President Donald Trump described the shooting as an "act of pure evil" but did not make reference to a growing row over Americans' right to bear arms.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders later told reporters that it was "premature" to discuss tighter gun regulations.

City officials have made an urgent appeal for blood donors as at least 527 people who were injured in the shooting are treated in hospitals across Nevada.

Some of those wounded were hit by shrapnel, while others were trampled on as hundreds fled the concert in panic.