¿Qué lleva a un hombre cómodamente retirado, sin antecedentes penales ni afiliación política o religiosa conocida, sin siquiera una multa de tránsito, a perpetrar la peor masacre en la historia de Estados Unidos?

Esa la pregunta que las autoridades en Las Vegas se hacen sobre Stephen Paddock, de 64 años, y todavía no pueden responder.

Su vida está siendo objeto de un intenso escrutinio para determinar qué lo llevó a presentarse en el Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino de Las Vegas con al menos 10 maletas llenas de armas y disparar desde su suite de la planta 32 contra los asistentes a un festival de música country, matando a al menos 59 personas e hiriendo a casi 530 más.

“Estamos indagando y siguiendo cada una de las pistas que podamos obtener en su pasado”, dijo el asistente del shérif del condado Clarck, Todd Fasulo, a los periodistas.

Fasulo reiteró que las autoridades creen que Paddock actuó solo y que no había ninguna amenaza contra Las Vegas. Las reivindicaciones del grupo Estado islámico han sido descartadas.

En una rueda de prensa anterior, el shérif Joseph Lombardo dijo no poder “meterse en la mente de un psicópata en este momento”.

Las autoridades saben que Paddock tenía predilección por las armas, por el video-póker de apuestas elevadas y por los acuerdos inmobiliarios. Su padre era un notorio ladrón de bancos fugado. Tenía una novia con la que se vivía desde hace poco, dos exesposas y lo que parecía una vida confortable en una comunidad para jubilados en Nevada. Tenía licencia de piloto y era dueño de dos aviones.

El hermano de Paddock, Eric, quien ha proporcionado gran parte de la información sobre el asesino, dice estar tan confundido como la policía en cuando al motivo. Su familia, dijo, está “horrorizada y desconcertada”.

“¿De dónde diablos consiguió las armas? Era un tipo que vivía en Mesquite y conducía hasta Las Vegas para jugar a las apuestas”, dijo Eric.

Pero Paddock no solo tenía armas: tenía miras telescópicas y hasta mecanismos para convertir sus rifles en armas totalmente automáticas. Esos artefactos sustituyen la parte posterior de un arma con un soporte que abarca hasta el lugar donde se encuentra el gatillo. El dispositivo coloca el dedo del usuario en contacto con el gatillo y aprovecha el retroceso de los disparos para que el arma salte de atrás a adelante, manteniendo pulsado el gatillo.

“Esta culata de recambio convierte un fusil semiautomático en un arma que puede disparar entre 400 y 800 cartuchos por minuto”, explica la senadora por California, Dianne Feinstein, quien lleva tiempo haciendo campaña en contra de estos aditamentos.

Un fusil semiautomático dispara un proyectil por cada vez que se acciona el gatillo. En un arma totalmente automática, un solo accionamiento del gatillo hace que todos los cartuchos sean percutidos hasta que se acabe el cargado.

Los investigadores buscaban el lunes más pistas en la casa del sospechoso y en otra de sus propiedades, con la esperanza de encontrar documentos o videos que expliquen lo sucedido.

Pero hallen lo que hallen, para las 59 víctimas mortales y sus familias, para los cientos de heridos, para la ciudad de Las Vegas y para todo Estados Unidos, la matanza seguirá siendo un acto despiadado e irracional inexplicable. Voa

LIST PARCIAL DE MUERTOS

Adrian MurfittAdrian Murfitt, 35, was a commercial fisherman in Anchorage, Alaska, who was at the concert with his best friend, Brian MacKinnon.

The pair was taking a picture and a bullet went through Murfitt’s neck, MacKinnon told the Alaska Dispatch News.

Charleston Hartfield

Charleston Hartfield, 34, was the off-duty Las Vegas police officer among those killed, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, citing people who knew the officer.

“He was probably busy helping others,” Hartfield’s friend Troy Rhett told the newspaper.

“I don’t know a better man than Charles.” The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, which did not identify the fallen officer, reported the death on Twitter.

Las Vegas victim: Charleston Hartfield

Las Vegas victim: Charleston Hartfield

Denise BurditusDenise Burditus, 50, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, attended the concert with her husband, Tony, WVVA TV in West Virginia reported.

She posted a photograph on Facebook just minutes before the gunman opened fire, the NBC affiliate said.

Sonny Melton

Sonny Melton, 29, of Big Sandy, Tennessee, saved his wife, Heather Melton, just before he was shot dead, she told WSMV-TV in Nashville.

“He grabbed me and started running when I felt him get shot in the back,” she told the NBC affiliate. Sonny Melton worked as a registered nurse, media reports said.

Las Vegas victim: Sonny Melton

Las Vegas victim: Sonny Melton

John PhippenJohn Phippen, of Santa Clarita, California, was a father of five, grandfather of one and owned a remodeling and repair company, KHTS AM 1220 radio station reported.

He attended the concert with his son Travis, who was shot in the arm, the station said.

“If you didn’t know John you surely missed out. He had a heart that was larger than life and a personality to match,” a GoFundMe page said.

“Even if you were someone he had never met before but were in need, he was there for you.”

Sandy Casey 

Sandy Casey was a special education teacher at Manhattan Beach Middle School in California, KGTV in San Diego said.

Casey was among a group of Manhattan Beach Unified School District staff, the ABC affiliate reported.

Chris Roybal

Chris Roybal, 28, of Southern California, was a Navy veteran who served in Afghanistan, ABC News said. Roybal was shot in the chest, ABC said.

Las Vegas victim: Chris Roybal

Las Vegas victim: Chris Roybal

Thomas Day Jr.Thomas Day Jr., 54, of Riverside, California, a home builder, went to the festival with his four children, who are in their 20s and 30s, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“He was the best dad. That’s why the kids were with him,” his father, Thomas Day Sr., told the newspaper. “They’re crushed.”

Hannah Ahlers

Hannah Ahlers, a 35-year-old mother of three from Murrieta, California, was shot in the head and died, ABC News reported.

Angie Gomez

Angie Gomez was a 2015 alumna of Riverside Polytechnic High School PTSA in Riverside, California, the school said on Facebook.

“She will always be loved and endeared by our Poly Family,” the school said.

Dana Gardner

Dana Gardner was an employee for California’s San Bernardino County for 26 years and most recently worked as a deputy recorder, the San Bernardino Sun reported.

Las Vegas victim: Angie Gomez

Las Vegas victim: Angie Gomez

Jessica KlymchukJessica Klymchuk, 28, of Valleyview, Alberta, was a librarian and the single mother of four children, Canada’s Globe and Mail reported.

It said she was visiting Las Vegas with her fiance. “She’s a very good mother. She’s raised four beautiful children,” Klymchuk’s grandmother Margaret told the paper.

Rhonda LeRocque

Rhonda LeRocque, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, was a wife and mother, devout Jehovah’s Witness and worked for a Cambridge design firm, the Boston Globe reported.

LeRocque attended the concert with her husband, Jason and their 7-year-old daughter, who were not injured, the newspaper said.

“Rhonda would do everything to be the best mom and the best wife she could be,” LeRocque’s sister, Jennifer Zelenski, told the paper.

Jordan McIldoon

Jordan McIldoon, 23, of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, was also killed, said the premier of British Columbia, John Horgan.

McIldoon was a heavy-duty mechanic apprentice and about to start trade school, CBC News reported, which said he was attending the festival with his girlfriend.

McIldoon died in the arms of a woman named Heather Gooze, CBC said.

Jennifer Topaz Irvine

Jennifer Topaz Irvine was a family law attorney based in San Diego, according to CBS News. A co-worker and friend identified Irvine as a victim to a CBS correspondent.

Las Vegas victim: Jennifer Topaz Irvine

Las Vegas victim: Jennifer Topaz Irvine

Rachael Parker Rachael Parker was a records technician with the Manhattan Beach Police Department in California, where she worked for 10 years, the police department said in a statement.

Parker attended the concert with three other off-duty police department employees, police said.

Jenny Parks

Jenny Parks was a teacher with Westside Union School District in California, KABC-TV in Los Angeles said.

“She touched many lives,” a GoFundMe page set up for her said. “She leaves behind her husband, Bobby and young children, Bryce and Leah.”

Quinton Robbins

Quinton Robbins, 20, of Henderson, Nevada, studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and worked in local government, Newsweek reported.

His aunt, Kilee Wells Sanders, confirmed his death in a Facebook post: “He was the most kind and loving soul. Everyone who met him loved him.

His contagious laugh and smile. He was truly an amazing person. He will be missed by so many.”

Lisa Romero-Muniz

Lisa Romero-Muniz was a secretary at Miyamura High School in Gallup, New Mexico, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.

In her most recent role, Romero-Muniz offered encouragement and support to students during disciplinary proceedings, the newspaper said.

She was described as outgoing, kind and considerate, it said.

Bailey Schweitzer

Bailey Schweitzer, 20, was from Bakersfield, California, her brother told the Bakersfield Californian newspaper.

Susan Smith

Susan Smith, 53, was a school office manager in Simi Valley, California, the Ventura County Star reported, citing a school district representative.

Smith was an ardent country music fan and worked at an elementary school for three years, the newspaper said.

Neysa Tonks

Neysa Tonks, of Las Vegas, who worked at Technologent, an Irvine, California-based technology company, was also among the victims, the Los Angeles Times said.

She was the mother of three boys, according to a GoFundMe campaign created by Technologent.

“Neysa brought joy, happiness, fun and laughter to so many of us. The senseless tragedy in Las Vegas Sunday has unnessarily (sic) taken her from our community,” the GoFundMe page said.