Footage From Vegas Massacre Out: 'Breach, Breach, Breach'

About 160 minutes of video released
By Janet Cromley,  Newser Staff
Posted May 3, 2018 7:28 AM CDT

Las Vegas police have released body cam footage from officers who stormed gunman Stephen Paddock's Mandalay Bay hotel suite on Oct. 1. The videos are graphic, a word used by Sheriff Joe Lombardo Tuesday in describing the release of what the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports is a total of about 160 minutes of footage: "We believe the release of the graphic footage will further traumatize a wounded community, and for that, we apologize," he said, per CNN. Police had resisted release of the records, arguing that they had scant funds and resources to carry out the request and citing potential trauma to survivors and victims' family members.

The Nevada Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the video had to be released, and the Review-Journal notes the footage gives the public its first view into how officers handled that night. It captures the officers' tension as they wait. "Breach, breach, breach," can be heard, followed by the explosion that blew open Paddock's door. An alarm sounds; the group remains calm and shows no emotion. As they move forward, they're heard identifying a camera, spotting a rifle, and saying they're going to check under the bed. Officer Levi Hancock entered the suite first but his body camera was off, meaning the initial moments in the room aren't viewable. The footage was taken by two K-9 officers who entered the room shortly after Hancock, and after Paddock's body had been discovered. (More Las Vegas shooting stories.)

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