So - what DIDN'T go right for the Vegas Attacker?

[hexola]

This seems like a complex plan - that never unfolded quite as planned.

First thing I considered...the windows.

I know they said there was a hammer in his room - and speculation that he used it break the windows...which really doesn't make sense if you are planning to shoot though them - why not shoot them out? Seems like a waste of time.

I wondered if he was banking on the windows being some sort of safety glass that he could shatter and then break a small hole out of to shoot through - without taking out the whole window - and making his position less visible.

Another claim was he planned to use the hammer to break though the drywall walls - and escape.

Wonder if this detail has been resolved?

I have my doubts about his intent to blow the fuel tanks - that stuff is more like Kerosene isnt it? Not as explosive as gasoline. As an aviator - he would know that. He might have taken a few lucky shots - but I tend to think the shots that hit the tank were just wild shots.

I'm also curious about all the calls from other hotels reporting shooting...planned diversion? Also - may not have been as effective as hoped.

Now they are saying the car was rigged to blow if shot at...but sounds like that part failed too.

[SoCalMusicLover]

1. I Don't Understand The Reports From Other Hotels

I hate seeing points in conspiracy theories, and wish I could believe the official account.

But there is a taxi audio recording from Mandalay Bay, where it does appear there are shots coming from much farther away, as well as shots from very close.

During the shooting, there were DEFINITELY news reports to the effect of shots fired at other hotels, of the police on scanners sending cars to other hotels further away on the strip. There was supposedly a swarm of cops descending on Bellagio at one point.

There was also most definitely a report about someone lying dead in front of Tropicana. I haven't heard a thing about that since, and don't know if perhaps his shots could carry that far, or if that report was false.

Last, there is a video showing flashes from a much lower floor at Mandalay Bay. I seem to recall a statement on Monday, where they addressed that, and dismissed it as a strobe light visible through the window. Of course, there was nothing further said, which makes me suspicious.

It's just impossible to truly believe everything we're told these days, which is most unfortunate.

[hexola]

2. Apparently - the strobe/flash was still going hours after the attack...

This has been de-bunked a few places - I think there is some footage of a reporter hours later - and the strobe is still visible in the same window.

At this point - its not really about a conspiracy per se - just trying to figure it out...

This one is doosey!

[Baconator]

3. He probably didn't want to waste time after the first burst moving to either move the glass..

... or find a non spiderwebbed bit.

Plus every round that hits the glass loses a bunch of kinetic energy and can tumble. Target awareness grows exponentially after the first rounds hit and in a few seconds folks are going to start bolting.

I would have expected more sophisticated glass cutting tools or some portable blowtorches.

As for the rest... Reporting is shit right after an incident. Everything that isn't right in front of your face should be taken with an enormous grain of salt.

[Alea]

4. My 1 cents worth

In the taxi video from below Mandalay Bay. I think the volley of fire that sounded different, more distant, was a result of her window being up, and then rolled down when the next volleys occurred.

As far as reports of firing up and down the strip. There's a video from someone up near Bally's and it was still fairly loud. I think people were hearing it all along the strip, calling it in, and saying it was at their location simply because they didn't know where it was but it was loud enough to think it was very close to them.

The hammer deal, shooting through glass with a plastic film on it, which I believe that glass had, won't shatter like some other glass so he needed to break it to get a clearer view. He may not have wanted it to break like it did but that's just how it worked out.

The fuel tanks, I think he did shoot them. I don't see how he could miss that bad. Most people think fuel storage tanks can be blown up with rifle fire because that's how it is in movies.

With the tannerite. Sheriff said it was mixed and ready to go. Meaning the aluminum powder you mix with ammonium nitrate to make it explode with gunfire had already been mixed in. Maybe he planned to get away and drive the car in to the crowd and set it off, or in to a hotel and set it off. No telling since it didn't get that far.