Gunman 'planned to survive'

Las Vegas shooter had ammunition, explosives in car

This photo combination shows some of the victims of the mass shooting that occurred at a country music festival in Las Vegas last weekend

HE may have died inside the hotel room from where he launched his deadly shooting spree, but police believe the Las Vegas killer may have been planning to unleash more mayhem.

Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo revealed Stephen Paddock had planned to survive the attack on the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, where he killed 58 people.

He had an escape plan to reach the parking garage of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and to his car.

Sheriff Lombardo said Paddock had 1600 rounds of ammunition in his car, along with fertiliser that could be used to make explosives and 23kg of Tannerite, a substance used in explosive rifle targets.

Mr Lombardo said he did not know what Paddock intended with the explosives and would not elaborate on getaway plans.

However, the gunman fired at giant tanks of jet fuel at the airport adjacent to the Mandalay Bay hotel, possibly in the hope of fleeing during the ensuing fireball.

The shocking revelation came as new evidence emerged Paddock might have set his sights on the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago in August.

TMZ reported that Paddock, 64, booked two rooms at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, across the street from Grant Park, the venue for Lollapalooza.

He would have had a similar view to the one he had of the Route 91 Harvest country music festival.

About 400,000 people, including Barack and Michelle Obama's oldest daughter, Malia, attended Lollapalooza.

It was held from August3 to 6, and Paddock's rooms were booked from August 1 to 6 and August 3 to 6.

TMZ said Paddock did not show up for his bookings.

He is also believed to have been planning a massacre in Las Vegas a week prior to the Harvest festival, having booked rooms at a hotel overlooking the Life is Beautiful open-air festival. It ran from September 22 to 24.

Officials have begun releasing the bodies of people killed in the shooting.

Coroner John Fudenberg said his staff had worked day and night to notify families that their loved ones had been killed.

"This has been very, very difficult,” Mr Fudenberg said.