A team of surgeons at Yale-New Haven Hospital is ready to mobilize in the event of a mass casualty incident.

"We have 11 fully trained trauma and emergency general surgeons," said Dr. Kimberly Davis, Yale-New Haven Hospital’s chief of general surgery, trauma and surgical critical care. 

But when the Yale-New Haven emergency room expects an influx of patients at once, other surgeons are prepared to help. The same is true at Connecticut’s other Level One Trauma Center at Hartford Hospital.

"That includes neurosurgery, orthopedics, plastic surgery," Hartford Hospital Chief of Surgery Dr. Jonathan Gates said. "And even you can imagine surgical oncology and transplant surgery would benefit because they have expertise in dealing with different organs."

The Yale-New Haven Trauma Center would set up two triage areas, one for the walking wounded and the other for critically injured victims, DDavis said.

"A determination would be made who is likely to survive who would best benefit from early aggressive intervention," she said.

When Davis first learned of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, she thought of her friend who runs the Level One trauma center at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas.

"The trauma surgery community is a small tight community," she said. "So I knew all the surgeons who are involved in the Pulse nightclub event, I know all the surgeons that are out in Las Vegas and I can only imagine what they’re going through."

Mass casualty events can take a toll on a hospital’s staff, Davis said.

"I’m sure the providers have their heads down," she said. "And they’re taking care of patients but will have some downstream emotional effects of taking care of so many people in such a short period of time."

Yale-New Haven’s Trauma Center runs disaster drills twice a year.

Hospitals in Bridgeport and Norwalk are Level Two trauma centers along the I-95 corridor.

Two Nevada gun shops confirmed to NBC News Monday that they sold firearms to Mandalay Bay shooter Stephen Paddock in the last year and said he passed all required background checks.

It was unknown if the weapons Paddock bought from the gun shops, New Frontier Armory in North Las Vegas and from Guns and Guitars in Mesquite, were used in the casino massacre.

The Las Vegas shooter who killed at least 58 and injured hundreds more had at least 17 guns in hotel room, two officials familiar with investigation told the Associated Press.

Christopher M Sullivan, the general manager of Guns & Guitars, Inc., in Mesquite, Nevada, released a statement confirming Paddock was a customer at his store. Sullivan said "all necessary background checks and procedures were followed, as required by local, state, and federal law."

"He never gave any indication or reason to believe he was unstable or unfit at any time," he said. "We are currently cooperating with the ongoing investigation by local and federal law enforcement in any way we can."

Security is top of mind at Connecticut’s two casinos after a gunman opened fire on the crowd of an outdoor music festival in Las Vegas, but the news is leaving some people in southeastern Connecticut on edge.

"My sons go to country concerts all the time. What it makes me think is it could have been my own son," one resident Donna Bagg, of Ledyard, said.

The mother is worried about going to a massive venue that’s home to entertainment, gaming, dining and more.

"A lot of people are not locals and just the unpredictability of society today," Bagg said.

Kathy Driscoll, of Gales Ferry, said she won’t let what happened in Las Vegas intimidate her, but she is heartbroken that the spirit of concerts might change.

"We’re going to have to have people come in under metal detectors and be watched that carefully," Driscoll said.

Security is always on Donald Cornish’s mind, who said he works in the poker room at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

"I’ve been in the poker room where there’s been disgruntled players and they’ve been obtained within minutes," Cornish said.

State and tribal police are on site at the casino and fast acting, according to Cornish. Security is even tighter at events, he added.

"They pat you down, they check your purses. I’ve gone there before I’ve worked there, they’ve checked under my car for anything. When security is heightened, they’re really on the ball, pretty much," Cornish said.

Ashley Polo, spokesperson for Foxwoods Resort Casino released a statement that reads, “The safety of our guests and team members is of paramount importance to Foxwoods Resort Casino. Foxwoods has always placed a strong focus on security through random trunk checks, screening and metal detectors at concerts, video surveillance and dedicated security personnel and Tribal Police officers. We are deeply saddened to learn of this unfortunate tragedy and our thoughts are with the families and all those in Las Vegas at this difficult time.”

Kevin Brown, chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Council and Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment Management Board released a statement that said, “While there are no words to help comfort those impacted by last night’s horrific incident, our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones effected by this tragedy. Unfortunately, we are reminded that any place people gather, such as the concert venue last night, can be a target for these extremely rare acts of violence. Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, across all of our properties, takes the matter of safety – that of our employees and guests – as the number one priority.

With a dedicated Tribal Council, including former military and public safety experts, leading the way, we have put in place highly trained police and surveillance teams including former members of the Connecticut SWAT unit. Our Public Safety team has for years had proactive measure in place including 24/7 indoor and outdoor police patrols, as well as a growing K-9 unit who specialize in multiple forms of screenings and detection. While we do not post all the measures in place, please know that our team continuously reviews and re-evaluates security protocol to ensure those who visit us are always in a safe environment.”

As the tragedy in Las Vegas continues to unfold, one Connecticut couple is on their flight back home to the Nutmeg state from Nevada.

Tracy Schoenfeldt, of Guilford, spent the last few days in Las Vegas as her boyfriend, Joel Karabeinikoff, of Southington, was playing in a softball tournament.

But when NBC Connecticut spoke with the couple on Monday via Facetime, they were at the Las Vegas airport, located just minutes away from where the gunman opened fire, and the couple couldn’t wait to get out of Nevada.

"It was very scary and there’s another Connecticut team out here, too, which we know, but they’re all OK," Karabeinikoff said.

First reports of the shooting were around 10:08 p.m.local time.

The couple didn’t go to the concert but said they had just passed the music venue minutes before the attack.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary then.

"We drove next to it. I said to our taxi driver, 'What is this big white tent?' and the driver said, 'That’s where the big country music show is.' And I said, 'I love country music.' Not even 45 minutes later my cousin is texting me to make sure I’m OK,' Schoenfeldt said.

Once they learned about the what unfolded, their first thought was to check with their friends on the strip.

"First we had to make sure our friends were OK. Found out they were in lockdown in the convention center and the Luxor, they had been at a comedy show, they were all okay and scared to death," Schoenfeldt said.

The couple was staying about 20 minutes away from the Vegas strip.

They described the aftermath caused by the shooting as they were on the way to the airport.

"It’s a mess, the highway, the freeways, a mess. Everything’s a mess here," Karabeinikoff said. "Everyone’s trying to leave, everybody looks like they’re trying to get out. “There was a mound of traffic, four lanes broken down to two, four broken down to two and then we’re turning for the airport, and on each side, there was police looking for vehicles."

Ultimately, the couple ended up missing their flight because of traffic, but they have since headed back to Connecticut. 

Thousands of miles away from her hometown of Las Vegas, Quinnipiac University professor Dr. Cindy Kern says her heart is breaking for the place she grew up in the aftermath of the deadliest shooting in American history.

Kern moved to Connecticut in 2013 and is the current Director for the Center for Science Teaching and Learning at QU. The venue for the country music festival is a place she’s been before and she was shocked when she heard about the carnage there.

“This is completely unimaginable until today,” she said. “We’ve all been to events there.” 

One of her former students was at the concert and had to run for her life to escape the gunfire.

“They were right there at the stage. They happened to get over a fence, but they were being fired upon while they were trying to exit,” said Kern. That student was not hurt.

Dr. Kern doesn’t understand what could’ve led the alleged shooter to carry out this act. But his motives aside, she hopes this event will bring about a national conversation on violence and understanding one another.

“We have to have a broader conversation. We have to step out of our echo chambers and talk to the people who agree with us and we have to move toward having these tough conversations before we have tragedy like this.”

And as for her hometown, Dr. Kern believes the city known for fun will survive and thrive despite this unspeakable tragedy. “Las Vegas is strong. This one person can’t stop us, can’t stop Las Vegas from moving forward,” she said.

Kern expects to talk to her students about this latest mass shooting during class time this week. She also hopes to talk to University leaders about having a “cross talk” or public discussion on campus about the issues of gun control, mental health and social justice.

Multiple departments responded to a fire at a commercial laundry facility in Norwich overnight, according to firefighters on scene.

Flames broke out at the AC Linen Supply on Consumer Avenue Monday night. Firefighters say there was fire in the ductwork.

Several departments, including a Rapid Intervention Team, responded.

No other details were immediately available.

A 17-year-old from Cornwall was seriously hurt when he was hit by a Jeep in Canaan Monday afternoon, according to Connecticut State Police.

Police said the boy was walking on Beebe Hill Road at the intersection with Route 7 around 3:40 p.m. when the accident occurred. According to police, the teen was in a crosswalk but did not stop at the intersection to check for traffic before crossing the street.

The boy suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries. He was initially taken to Sharon Hospital then later airlifted to Hartford Hospital for further treatment.

The 31-year-old driver did not report any injuries.

The crash remains under investigation. No charges have been filed.

About 3.6 million clear plastic plates with designs like superheroes, giraffes and cars are being recalled because the clear plastic layer over those graphics can peel off and pose a choking hazard.

Playtex has been made aware of 372 instances of that layer bubbling or peeling, 11 reports of that plastic in children's mouths and four of children choking on it, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall notice, issued Tuesday.

The Playtex dishware were sold from October 2009 through this August at Walmart, Babies R Us, Target, and other stores, as well as on Amazon online, for about $2.50 per plate or bowl and as part of a $15 set.

Anyone with the bowls is being asked to stop using them immediately and take them away from young children. Playtex is offering a full refund.

The plates and bowls say Playtex on the bottom and have a colored rim and non-slip bottom.

Learn more by calling Playtex at 1-888-220-2075 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET on weekdays or visiting its recall website.

Airlines are stepping up to help consumers change their flights to Las Vegas, if needed.

Many people have voiced concerns about their upcoming trips on social media, given Sunday's deadly shooting. For the most part, people say they are sticking with their plans, but believe it won't be the same.

One Dallas man said his travel plans to Las Vegas are up in the air. Jeff Platt told NBC 5 he's heartbroken for the victims and can't wrap his head around a vacation right now.

He and his college friends go to Las Vegas every year. But now, the group isn't sure if this is the best time.

"Carter was standing by the TV and said, 'Daddy, I don't ever want to go to Vegas,'" Platt said. "My first thought was, my family is not going to like that. ... I'm not worried about my personal safety. I'm worried about people worrying."

For anyone else who's rethinking their upcoming trip to Las Vegas, here are the airlines we've heard from so far that are waiving their change fee for Las Vegas flights this week: Southwest, American Airlines, Delta, Jetblue, Spirit, United, Virgin America and Allegiant.

Travelers have to call ahead to re-book and need to do so before their scheduled flight.

As for hotels, consumer's should call the hotel and ask if they will waive the cancellation fee if you're within that 24-hour window.

More than 70,000 people are expected to attend the Hartford Marathon on Oct. 14, including 12,000 runners. In the wake of the mas shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas Sunday night, Hartford Marathon Foundation CEO and founder, Beth Shluger, said safety is always a priority.

“How can you even wrap your mind around the tragedy that’s transpired there?,” she said.

Shluger said the greatest experts in the region have a safety plan, but they cannot share it for obvious reasons.

“We have a very active safety and security task force made up of law enforcement and emergency planners in the region that works on safety in the Hartford Marathon,” Shluger said about the team of approximately 60 people. “I want to ensure people our guard is not down.”

Caitlin Cunningham’s guard isn’t down either.

The Simsbury native who witnessed the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 plans to run this year’s Hartford Marathon.

“My gut feeling is that you have to continue to participate in the activities you like and … just I try not to think about anything bad happening at all,” said Cunningham.

As authorities continue to investigate the overnight shooting in the Las Vegas concert venue, Shluger takes away a lesson that so many of us can use at any large venue or event.

“There’s nothing more important than see something, say something. Nothing more important than that when you have a gathering of a lot of people,” she said.

Comcast is making high-speed internet accessible to senior citizens and low-income residents across Hartford. 

Demeta Tinsley, of Hartford, now has the power to use a computer to see how her son is doing for the first time in her life. 

“I want to see how he’s doing, you know?” Tinsley said. “I want to visualize him, I want to look at his face and see how everything is going.” 

Comcast says only half of senior citizens have broadbrand internet at home. Today, the digital divide in Hartford just got a little smaller. 

Comcast’s program Internet Essentials has expanded its high-speed internet service to seniors and low-income residents at the Betty Knox apartments in Hartford and the program offers high-speed internet for $9.99 a month with free home WiFi, free tutorials on how it works and subsidized laptops. 

“The Internet is the ultimate tool to enable seniors to stay connected -- stay connected to their community, stay connected to their doctors, stay connected to their families,” Comcast senior executive vice president David Cohen said. 

What’s more, Comcast donated 30 laptops to the residents of Betty Knox and installed a WiFi hotspot system throughout the apartment building. 

Tinsley said the change is life changing. 

“I don’t have a computer, all I have is my phone and I’m just learning how to use that, so the computer and the classes would be an upgrade,” she said. 

Fulfilling the promise of the Internet immediately was at the forefront for Comcast. 

“Right when they’re excited, right when they’re interested, make sure that you can fulfill the commitment that we’re making,” said Cohen. 

Betty Knox resident Desmond Green looks forward to getting his hands on the technology he’s never owned before, and is thankful it’s available for him now. 

“[It’s] very, very important, because it’s not a projection of later on, it’s a reality of now,” he said. 

Comcast is the parent company of NBC Connecticut and NBC Universal. 

A Bridgeport man is accused of breaking into a co-worker’s Stratford home, hitting the woman and stabbing her boyfriend. 

Police arrested 22-year-old Juan Santiago, of Bridgeport, Monday after an incident on Hollister Street in Stratford. 

Police said Santiago arrived, unannounced at a co-worker’s home some unknown reason and eventually climbed through a bedroom window. 

The female homeowner and her boyfriend confronted Santiago, who eventually stabbed the male victim, police said, then he hit his co-worker and fled on a bicycle. 

Stratford officers found Santiago in Bridgeport and arrested him. 

Police said they found the knife on the side of Hollister. 

The male victim was treated for stab wounds to his torso and hand at Bridgeport Hospital. 

Santiago was charged with carrying a dangerous weapon, first-degree assault, disorderly conduct and home invasion. 

Santiago was held on a $500,000 bond and is due in Bridgeport Court on Oct. 9.

Tom McIntosh had an emotional reunion Tuesday morning with the man who helped save his life during the chaos of the Las Vegas concert shooting.

McIntosh was shot in the leg when a gunman opened fire at a country music festival Sunday evening, claiming at least 59 lives and injuring more than 500.

Another man, James Lawson, fixed a tourniquet on McIntosh's leg and helped drop him off at the emergency room the evening of the shooting.

On Tuesday, McIntosh appeared on NBC's "Today" show. He told anchor Savannah Guthrie that he wanted to thank the stranger who helped him, and that's when Lawson showed up to surprise him. 

“Oh wow,” McIntosh said. When he saw Lawson, he hugged him.

“Thanks, buddy,” he said. “Appreciate it.”

Lawson was getting away from the scene when he came across McIntosh in the bed of a pickup truck.

“There’s a belt, kind of a makeshift tourniquet, it was around his knee,” Lawson said. “Completely wrong spot. I walked up there and he was actively bleeding so I adjusted the belt. Got it up where it should be. Tightened it up. We stopped the bleeding.”

Lawson said he waited with McIntosh for 10 or 15 minutes until someone came along with a pickup truck and gave them a ride to the hospital.

“He kept me from bleeding out,” McIntosh said in a separate interview on MSNBC. “I would’ve died.

McIntosh and his wife had just gone out to dinner and got to the concert in time to catch the end of the opening act, Jake Owen, with his wife's sister and cousin, he said. McIntosh lives in Las Vegas, but he and his wife were having what he called a "staycation" at the Luxor Las Vegas hotel.

When the shooting started, McIntosh at first thought it was fireworks.

McIntosh and his wife began running and lost contact with their family members. People were falling all around them, he said, and he didn't know whether they were tripping or getting shot. They came to an iron fence and McIntosh's wife said it would be too difficult to climb over, he said.

"So we went around it to a brick wall and I helped her up over the brick wall, and then there was another woman who needed help so I helped her over the brick wall," McIntosh said. "And then at that point that's when I got shot."

On the "Today" show, McIntosh thanked Lawson again before they parted ways, shaking his hand.

“Of course,” Lawson said. 

An Ellington woman who was in Las Vegas for a convention rushed to help after she learned the news of the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival Sunday night.

“I'm standing in line, hopefully donating blood to save a life,” Christina Morin told NBC Connecticut Monday.

The shooting continues to send shockwaves through Las Vegas – but on the other side – an incredible show of support for the victims. Pictures show thousands of people headed straight for blood donation centers. Morin was among them and spoke to NBC Connecticut over the phone Monday.

“It's kind of the least I can do is to just be here and stand with everybody else and donate blood,” she said.

Morin arrived in Las Vegas Sunday. When she learned the news she ran into the lobby of her hotel and met three people who’d been at the country music concert. She said she gave them her phone charger so they could reach loved ones.

“They were shaking, just shaking. One girl had cuts all over her legs. They were telling me bodyguards were just throwing people over fences to get them out of the way,” Morin said.

The next morning, she stood in line with a thousand other people to donate blood, and while they were there, businesses came out to show their support.

“The community is unbelievable. Walmart has been here, Subway, Little Caesars,” Morin said.”Everybody is handing out food, water, sunscreen. I just got an umbrella.”

Kindness and generosity poured out of a moment that’s shaken the nation.

“I just don't understand it. I don't know how I'm going to explain something like this to my little girls that are back home,” she said.

Morin said people at her location waited nearly 12 hours to donate blood. After waiting six hours she said people in line were told to go home. The center was booked with donation appointments for the next 10 days. Morin plans to donate anyway when she returns to Connecticut.

A Wallingford substitute teacher was arrested after he refused to leave school, according to police.

Police responded to Pond Hill Elementary School just after 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28 to investigate a disturbance and school officials said a substitute teacher, 24-year-old Kelly Bolling, of Norwalk, was refusing to leave the school.

A school administrator told officers that administrators from a different Wallingford elementary school had told Bolling the day earlier that he would not be allowed back to that school after reports of him watching movies with earbuds in both ears during class, police said.

The principal of Pond Hill Elementary School told police she went to check on Bolling and saw him texting on his phone instead of engaging the students, so she called him in at the end of the day to hear his side of the story and noticed that he was mumbling and slurring his words, police said.

Bolling was then advised that he wouldn’t be working for Wallingford Public Schools again and was asked to leave, but Bolling refused to leave school grounds, according to police.

When officers approached Bolling, he was agitated, his eyes were bloodshot and he was swaying back and forth, police said.

Bolling refused to remove his hand from his pocket or drop the blue backpack he was holding and lifted it over his head as if he was going to throw it at the school administrator and an officer, police said.

Bolling was charged with criminal trespass, second-degree breach of peace, interfering and resisting arrest and second-degree threatening.

He was released on $1,500 bond and is due in court on Oct. 12.

Passengers who landed at Bradley Airport from Las Vegas Monday night shared their stories about the horrific attack at a country music concert that took the lives of 59 people and injured more than 500 others. 

"People started running in and they announced, anyone staying in this hotel go to your room," said Dusty Palmer, of Wallingford. 

"Everyone was running for cover. We heard shots from above," said Russ Longley, of Litchfield. 

They shared story after story of what it was like to be in Las Vegas when a lone gunman opened fire onto the crowd of thousands. 

James Magagnoli, of South Hadley Massachusetts, had been at the concert but left early. 

"It was eerie that we left 45 minutes before it happened," Magagnoli said. "We were so close; we were literally within 100 feet of the stage." 

Russ Longley said he saw and heard the chaos unfolding from down the street. 

"There was one area where we saw a person deceased," said Longley. 

"I'm a little scared to go back," said Jeraldine Virinia, who calls Las Vegas home and said she's unsure what to expect when she returns. 

"I had friends who did go. And I hope they are OK. I'm not hearing anything bad so I am assuming they are OK," said Virinia. 

While police investigate the largest mass shooting in modern American history, people who shared their stories said it's an experience they wish they never had to endure. 

"Look at the numbers there's a 1/20 chance we would have gotten hurt," said Magagnoli. 

"It changed all of our lives. It's just the way of the world," said Longley.

Feeling overwhelmed, powerless or angry as you watch news of another mass shooting, this one in Las Vegas? Those feelings are normal, even for people who don't have ties to Nevada or anyone there, according to counselors. 

There are tools that can help in handling those emotional reactions. NBC10 Philadelphia's Tracy Davidson spoke to a counselor in the area Monday about what you and those you love can do.

Q: I feel overwhelmed by the news. How do I process this?
A: Each person's reaction to a tragedy is unique to that individual and that's OK, said Dana Careless, a counselor from the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services.

Some people disconnect and shut off communication while others are active on social media, looking for answers and trying to stay informed. No matter how you deal with tragedy, it is important to take care of yourself. If you start to feel overwhelmed, "take a step back, take a deep breath, and disconnect if you need to," Careless said.

Q: What things can I do to take care of myself?
A: Self-care is doubly important while we try to cope with trauma. Do what makes you happy or calms you down. Careless runs; some people choose yoga or swimming. Others need quiet time meditating, praying or listening to music. Careless said journaling can help some people.

Q: What should I do if I start to feel overwhelmed?
A: "It can be really, really easy to get caught up in all the information, to keep clicking and clicking," Careless said. She suggested people focus on staying grounded. Using your five senses can help you settle into the moment, she said; wherever you are, find five things you see, four things you hear, three things you touch, two things you smell and one thing you taste. Remember to take your time and breathe — in through your nose, out through your mouth, she said. 

Q: What if my children ask me about the event?
A: Careless suggested parents be open with children, if children want to talk. Don't shut down conversation or tell them to "get over it," she said. Try to normalize the discussion and reiterate to them that it is okay to be upset or confused by the tragedy. On the other hand, if they don't want to talk, give them some space until they feel like engaging. If your children seem to be struggling more than usual, consider reaching out for help or following up on their condition.

Q: How long will it take to heal and move on?
A: Every person’s process is different. The way you begin to heal is individual, so do what is necessary to help start the process. If you or a loved one start to have irregular habits, such as lack of sleep or oversleeping, that continue past two weeks, consider talking to someone who can help.

The federal government's mental health agency, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, has a 24-hour Disaster Relief Helpline. If you would like free support or counseling, contact them at 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs’ to 66746. 

The Consolidated School District of New Britain is anticipating an influx of students from the Caribbean following Hurricane Maria.

Over the last week, the district had six new students from Puerto Rico, two from the U.S. Virgin Islands and one from Florida. They all relocated to temporarily stay with family members in New Britain.

“To not open our doors would be doing a disservice to our families. They matter. Our families matter, our students matter,” said Superintendent Nancy Sarra.

But as much as the school district is happy to accommodate new students, the superintendent is concerned about having enough space and enough resources, especially at a time when the state is facing a financial crisis.

That is why the district is reaching out to organizations like FEMA to ask for help. The district is also requesting a sit down with the Connecticut Commissioner of Education to ask what the state’s plan is when it comes to helping refugee families.

In the meantime, the district plans to set up a welcoming center for families in downtown New Britain at the Institute for Technology and Business Development. Central Connecticut State University is offering space in the building rent-free for four months. Families will be able to connect with the school district and other community programs that may be of service.

Several parents of children already in New Britain schools are commending district leaders on their efforts to ease the transition.

“I think that’s a good idea because they should keep studying and doing schoolwork,” said Awilda Ramos of New Britain.

“We’re all for that,” said Peter Figueroa of New Britain. “If the district is going to do that, praise this city. New Britain is a great city to live in, this is why I live here.”

A woman who recently moved to Las Vegas from Van Nuys, Southern California, was in a hotel restaurant several floors above a gunman who opened fire Sunday night on an outdoor music festival, killing more than 50 people and injuring 500 others.

Forbes Riley was attending a party on the 63rd floor of the hotel when she heard rapid gunfire. In a video captured by Riley, dozens of people at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival can be seen below scrambling around in an effort to avoid the gunfire.

She later learned she witnessed the deadliest mass shooting in recent U.S. history.

"The noise that I thought was fireworks was people dying," Riley said.

From the balcony of the Foundation Room, a steak house Riley was in, she heard what she thought was a machine gun and proceeded to record. Doctors said some of the gunshot wounds were so severe that they knew they had to be from high-powered weapons not usually seen on the street.

"Look at how many people are not moving," one person can be heard saying in the video.

Security at the steak house ordered attendants to cover for shelter, according to Riley.

"My two children were like, 'Mommy, please be careful,'" she said.

Riley said she did not know the gunfire was coming from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay high-rise. 

"I could see them all running," she said.

Fifty-nine people died in the massacre and hundreds more were injured. Investigators said 64-year-old retired accountant Stephen Paddock killed himself before authorities entered his hotel room.

Sunday evening’s mass shooting in Las Vegas, the deadliest in modern U.S. history, highlighted Nevada’s stark partisan divide that has made it a flashpoint in the nation’s debate on gun rights, NBC News reported.

Both parties have spent millions trying to tighten or loosen gun laws. The state has relatively light restrictions, with no permit requirements to buy handguns, rifles or shotguns. Nevada residents can openly carry firearms throughout the state.

"There is very little on the books," said Robyn Thomas, executive director of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a gun safety group.

In 2013, former President Barack Obama pushed for laws expanding background checks to include private gun sales and gun shows. Fifty-four senators in Congress voted for a bipartisan bill, but it was overcome in a filibuster.

Sen. Dean Heller, a Nevada Republican, was considered a key swing vote and ultimately voted "no" on the bill.