Stephen Craig Paddock

Stephen Craig Paddock was born on April 9, 1953, in Clinton, Iowa, and grew up primarily in Tucson, Arizona, after his family relocated during his infancy. He was the oldest of four sons born to Benjamin Paddock, a bank robber who was later added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, and Dolores Hudson, who raised her children largely on her own after Benjamin’s arrest. Paddock’s childhood was marked by modest means and a strong emphasis on self‑reliance from his mother. Despite family turmoil, those who knew him described him as intelligent, mathematically inclined, and, by his own characterization, quiet and withdrawn.

Paddock was educated locally, graduating from Sun Valley High School in 1971 before attending California State University, Northridge, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1977. His early career was varied. Between the mid‑1970s and mid‑1980s, Paddock worked in several positions including as a postal worker and for the Internal Revenue Service, later moving into auditing roles and ultimately pursuing real estate investments. Over time he established a moderately prosperous life, living in various cities across the United States and maintaining interests in property management and financial speculation.

Personal accounts record that Paddock married twice, from 1977 to 1979, and again from 1985 to 1990, and had no children. Described by acquaintances as a private man, he kept much of his personal life separate from broader social circles. In later years he became increasingly interested in gambling, especially video poker, and traveled extensively, including numerous cruise voyages.

On October 1, 2017, Stephen Paddock carried out the deadliest mass shooting by an individual in modern United States history. From his 32nd‑floor suite at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Paradise, Nevada, he fired into a crowd of approximately 22,000 people attending the Route 91 Harvest country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip. Over the course of ten minutes, Paddock discharged more than 1,000 rounds from a cache of rifles that he had legally acquired and modified, striking concertgoers at random and inflicting catastrophic harm.

The assault resulted in 60 fatalities, including two individuals who later died from their injuries, and wounded at least 867 others. Security efforts were hampered by Paddock’s fortification of the hallway door and the rapid pace of his firing. When law enforcement breached the scene, they found Paddock dead from a self‑inflicted gunshot wound. At the time of his death he was still on site, and there was no opportunity for arrest or trial.

In the aftermath, investigators revealed that Paddock had meticulously planned the attack, including checking into the hotel days earlier under an alias and transporting multiple suitcases of firearms and ammunition to his rooms. Despite extensive investigation, authorities have not determined a definitive motive. Speculation has ranged from personal frustration to mental health issues, but no conclusive psychological profile or ideological impetus has been officially confirmed.