The mystery of Stephen Paddock — gambler, real estate investor, mass killer

He was 64 years old and, to those who knew him, showed no signs of mental illness, extreme political views or an unhealthy interest in guns. He liked to gamble, and had bounced around over the years, living in Southern California, Texas and Nevada. But he seemed to have plenty of money, and had held steady jobs as a mail carrier, accountant, auditor and apartment manager.

Stephen Paddock’s last stop was here, in Mesquite, Nev., a modest desert oasis 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas, where he lived in a retirement community with his female partner and kept a low profile, conversing little and maintaining no Facebook or Twitter accounts.

In an era when social media invites full-throated expression of even the most minor annoyance, Paddock gave away no hint of whatever it was that drove him to commit mass murder on the Las Vegas Strip, killing 59 people in an assault on a country music festival late Sunday night.

“We are completely dumbfounded,” said a younger brother, Eric Paddock, who broke into tears in front of his suburban Orlando, Fla., home. “We can’t understand what happened.”

“He was always normal,” said Donald Judy, a former next-door neighbor who said he was struggling to reconcile the friendly conversations about real estate and family with carnage carried out from a hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

Kidnap Suspects Shot During Police Rescue Operation

On Friday, three suspected kidnappers were killed and three others arrested by the police during the rescue operation of the treasurer of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Delta State University, Abraka chapter, Mr. Martins Denedo.

Denedo was abducted in the early hours of January 1, 2012, on his way home from New Year’s eve church service. Some gunmen had reportedly laid siege to Denedo’s residence in the university community and attacked him when he got out of his car to open his gate. He was immediately driven away in his car, a Nissan Pathfinder Sports Utility Vehicle with registration number BKW 18 AA.

Spokesman for the Delta State Police Command Mr. Famous Ajai, while confirming the rescue, said, "Teams of policemen on Friday morning rescued Denedo from the kidnappers’ hideout at Elumo in Abraka, close to Ughelli.

"Three of the kidnappers were killed during the exchange of gunfire with the police while three others were arrested. About two others are still on the run. We are on them and I’m positive that more arrests would be made soonest."

A few weeks before, the mother of Nigeria’s Finance Minster was kidnapped at the gate of her husband’s palace in Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.

Kidnappers, numbering about 10, were said to have pushed the 82-year-old Prof. Kanene Okonjo into a waiting vehicle when she came down to offer drinks to workers at the gate. Although there have been dismissals of a ransom paid to secure Okonjo’s release as with other high profile cases, reports of kidnapping have continually emanated from the oil-rich state almost on a weekly basis

MISSOURI MAN ARRESTED FOR PLOTTING A 'TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN' THEATER SHOOTING

A 23-year-old man from Missouri was arrested on Thursday after confessing he had plans to shoot up a local screening of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 and Walmart store.

Blaec Lammers of Bolivar, Mo -- a small rural community 130 miles southeast of Kansas City --was charged with three felonies in the alleged shooting plot: first-degree assault, making a terroristic threat and armed criminal action. He was thrown into Polk County jail on $500,000 bond.

Lammers' own mother contacted authorities. She became suspicious her son "may have intentions of shooting people" during the opening weekend of the final Twilight film, a police statement read, after Lammers had recently purchased two assault rifles and 400 rounds of ammunition. The weapons were similar to the ones used by James Holmes, the psychotic gunman who opened fire on a Aurora, Colo. movie theater during a Dark Knight showing this past July. Twelve people were killed and several others were injured in that attack.

Lammers, who has a history of mental illness and was "off of his medication," told police that he had purchased tickets for a Sunday Twilight screening in Bolivar and planned to shoot the people inside the theater. He then planned to move to a Walmart store nearby where he would "just start shooting people at random." If he ran out of bullets, Lammers planned to "just break the glass where the ammunition is being stored and get some more and keep shooting until police arrived," a statement from police read.

The two firearms Lammers had bought earlier in the week appeared to have been purchased legally.

Tyga Talks About Nebraska Shooting

Tyga called in to 3m360 to speak on the shooting that occurred at his concert in Omaha, Nebraska on Monday (March 19). The "Rack City" MC gave host Yesi Ortiz his side of the story, saying the incident was caused by his refusal to let a local act open for him.

"It was some people that were supposed to perform," explained Tyga. "Like some local opening acts and I told 'em they couldn't perform because it's a tour, I don't want no local opening acts performing. That's what y'all seen on YouTube."

The Young Money rapper was referring to YouTube footage that surfaced after the concert, which showed him screaming into the crowd after having debris thrown on stage during his set. After confronting the culprits with an expletive-laden rant, Tyga invited them to "meet me outside" as his DJ played gunshot sound effects over the sound system.

"On some real **** you can meet me outside," yelled Tyga from the stage. "I'ma do this one more motherfuckin song for my fans and then I'ma go outside," he said before launching into his Billboard smash "Rack City."

The police report states that a black four-door sedan followed Tyga's tour van as it pulled away from the venue. Officers observed several bullet holes in the van but only two members of the "Careless World" MCs crew were struck. Female MC Honey Cocaine was hit in the arm and taken to Creighton University Medical Center. The second victim was Derrick Lowe, who was grazed in the hip and refused medical treatment at the scene.

Tyga assured Ortiz that Honey Cocaine was OK and their tour would continue as planned.

"We got a show tonight in Albuquerque, so we on our way there now," said the "Careless World" MC