LAS VEGAS — An armed security officer and a Las Vegas policeman were on the 32ndfloor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel on the night of October 1 while gunman Stephen Paddock was still firing from his suite, according to recorded statements from three law enforcement officials.
The following is the transcription of a tape-recorded interview conducted by Detective B. Hodson (BH), LVMPD Force Investigation Team, on 10-12-17 at 11:56. Also present were FBI Special Agent J. Mollica (JM) and D. Howell (DH).
This is Detective Breck Hodson, P#9034 with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Force Investigation Team conducting a taped statement with Mr. [Name redacted], is that correct? This is going to be a taped statement reference Event #171001-3519. Today’s date’s going to be October 12th, 2017 and the time is approximately 1156 hours in the morning. The taped statement will be conducted inside the Mandalay Bay at 3950 South Las Vegas Boulevard. Also present for the interview is Special Agent James Mollica and [Name redacted] from the MGM.
[Security supervisor’s name redacted] I appreciate you coming in today. You understand this interview is being recorded, that is correct?
Supv: Yes, sir.
BH: What do you recall from that night in your own words?
Supv: Around 2100 hours approximately we had found two prostitutes, recognized prostitutes in a bar on the casino floor, Mizuya Lounge. We escorted the two women to our holding room, the casino security office, where I, we did pat down searches on them. They had false ID on both of them and also regular ID. I made the phone call for Metro to show, I’m going to guess probably around 2120 hours – I’m sorry – 2140 hours, Metro arrived. They began to do the paperwork, and I’m going, you know, you’re not recording times because you don’t know what’s going to happen, right. So, I’m going by a guesstimate, a good guesstimate, I’m going to say 21 – 0r 2200 hours.
A radio transmission came over Metro Officer Hendrick’s radio, “Shots fired, festival lot across from Luxor.” Officer Hendrix looks at me and said, “Did you hear that?” And I said, “Yeah, that’s right across the street.” And right after I said that over Metro’s radio again came, “Headed to Mandalay Bay.”
And it was like basically everybody went, “Oh shit.” And then we ran out of the CSO [casino security office] towards the casino floor. My intention was to head towards the Dragon Falls on the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Mandalay Bay Road.
OK, because that would have been the logical entry from the festival lot if they were heading to Mandalay Bay. So, my intention was to go out the tram doors to start heading in that direction, but as we hit the craps tables our radio transmission came from our security officer who was patrolling the hotel at the time [name redacted in report, but this was S/O Jesus Campos] his radio transmission was Control, shots fired, 32ndfloor, 100 wing, I think I’ve been hit.
So as soon as we heard that I yelled at Hendrix and said, “Elevators – elevators, shots fired on – elevators – elevators.” So, we ran, we grabbed an elevator. My [name redacted], Officer Hendrix with metro, his trainee – which I don’t know the name, it was her first day – and myself we were in the elevator heading up to 32. When we hit around the 23rdto 25thfloor our radio traffic came on and said, “Shots fired 31stfloor.” So, I pushed the 31stbutton.
And the 32 was obviously pressed already. We were all going to 32. Doors opened on 32. [Name redacted] and the training Metro officer got off on the 31stfloor. Me and Hendrix got off on the 32ndfloor. When we got off on the 32ndfloor we heard active shooting still going on.
BH: So, hold on, so Hendrix is – was he with you on 32?
Supv: Mm – hm.
BH: He left his trainee down on 31?
Supv: He – the trainee got off with my two assistants on 31. And Hendrix went up with me to 32. When the elevator doors opened we heard active, semi-fire. It was basically (making gunfire noises). We head—we turn the wing, because the 100 wing when you came out of the elevator bank was on the right. We turned the wing. I hugged the left wall at center core. He hugged the right wall and there was active shooting going on in the room for approximately two minutes more. About two minutes more there was still gunfire going on. Then it got quiet. That was it, done. And then myself and Officer Hendrix with our weapons drawn on the room way down the hallway now.
We maintained, we maintained our position, to conceal, to confine rather, that room, hopefully, nobody would be coming out. And then we waited, and then I’m going to say about maybe three to four minutes later some uniform Metro cops started showing up, gathering in center, center core. And then, armor set up in front. Had two officers laying on the floor with their rifles drawn on the room. One in the left, one on the right. And then, after awhile a decision was made to try to start to evacuate.
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