UPDATE 3/10/17: The death toll now stands at over 50, and those injured at over 500 in what is now clearly the largest mass shooting in U.S. history, with the act of domestic terror committed by the now-dead 64-year-old Nevada resident Stephen Paddock.

Paddock took his own life when officers entered his hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino, where they found over 20 weapons including two scoped rifles, News.com.au reports. The retired accountant had no criminal history, and is believed to have worked alone.

A fundraiser has been established for those affected by the charity, with donations able to be made here.

UPDATE 2/10/17: The death toll has been confirmed as having risen to at least 20. The gunman has been identified as a local resident, while police are currently searching for his female companion.

ORIGINAL STORY: At least two people have been confirmed dead, with a further 24 injured, in what has been described as a mass shooting at a music festival in Las Vegas.

As News.com.au reports, shots rang out at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas during a performance by country musician Jason Aldean, around 10pm local time Sunday night. Witnesses have stated that the shots in question originated from the balcony on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel and casino, across from the festival.

Las Vegas police were quick to respond to the incident, urging people to avoid the area.

As News.com.au notes, there have so far been unconfirmed reports of up to two dozen fatalities, with local police using their squad cars to alleviate pressure on ambulance services, taking injured concertgoers to nearby hospitals.

Footage of the incident has begun surfacing online from those in the area, and shows the crowd reacting to a seemingly-unending round of shots from an unknown location.

“They were firing from somewhere high, and they were unloading clip after clip after clip after clip,” one witness told local television station, KSNV News. “It was hundreds of shots.”

Local police have currently locked down areas of the city, including the famous Las Vegas strip and Interstate 15. Meanwhile, McCarran International Airport has Tweeted that flights in and out of the city have been temporarily halted. Likewise, the remainder of the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival, which was in the closing stages of its final night, has been cancelled.

At this stage, most reports of the incident are unconfirmed due to the chaotic nature of the scene, but we’ll keep you updated on any major developments in the story.

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