Suspect in Vegas shooting once lived in North Texas
MESQUITE, Texas - The man who opened fire on a concert crowd in Las Vegas Monday called North Texas his home for more than a decade.
Stephen Paddock lived in Mesquite, Texas between 1998 and at least 2012. He may have lived in the area for a little longer. Records show he owned at least one home in Mesquite and managed an apartment complex on Via Ventura during that time.
Former neighbors George Huentes and Maria Almeda say Paddock's mother called him "the bad one" of her two sons. He says she was concerned Paddock was "doing the wrong thing."
Huentes and Almeda lived next door to Paddock's mother in of the three properties he owned in Mesquite, Texas.
"I don't know why she would say that," Huentes said.
"'This one's the good son. The other one's not a good son.' That's what she said," explained Almeda.
Lockheed Martin confirms Paddock worked for one of its subsidiaries from 1985 to 1988. His background indicates he did accounting work.
"Mr. Paddock was based here for about February 2007 through the beginning of 2010. A little less than three years," explained Mesquite Airport Director Cynthia Godfrey.
The airport director vaguely remembers Paddock. He had a private pilots license and owned two planes at one time. His license shows he was instrument rated and was required to wear glasses for nearsighted vision. His license expired in 2010.
"He lived in Mesquite at the time he had his plane based here in one of our hangers. He paid rent to us," Godfrey said. "I don't recall a lot about him. He wasn't a troublemaker. There's nothing in the file that reminds me or indicates that we ever had any issues with him. He just came out and flew his airplane."
North Texas police also say he Paddock flew below the radar. He only called in a parking violation in 2005 and once reported someone stole mail from the apartment complex he managed, according to Mesquite PD.
The 64-year-old had no criminal record in Texas. Police in Mesquite, Nevada, also said he had no run-ins with officers after he moved there to live in a retirement community. However, federal law enforcement sources told Fox News that Paddock "was known to local authorities," in Las Vegas.
Authorities are still trying to determine Paddock's motive but said there is no indication of international terrorism. His brother told FOX 35 in Orlando he is completely dumbfounded and can't understand what happened.
Paddock was found dead on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, across the street from the Route 91 Harvest Festival concert. Police said he used the vantage point from his room to shoot and kill at least 58 and injured more than 500 people.
"The news of this senseless act of violence in Las Vegas overnight is heartbreaking. Cecelia and I are beyond saddened by the tremendous loss of life," Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. "Texas mourns and prays for the victims of this tragedy, and the entire Las Vegas Community, in this time of unimaginable pain."
It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.