SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:56 P.M. ET:

We scrubbed "Short Takes" tonight in order to monitor the horrible mass shooting in Las Vegas. This is being written at 4:45 a.m. ET.

For those of you just awakening, a gunman employing what apparently was a fully automatic weapon (machine gun) opened fire on an outdoor music concert about 10:08 p.m., Las Vegas time.  The gunman was on the 32nd floor of a nearby hotel, and fired down into the concert.

The police report that more than 20 people were killed and more than 100 wounded or injured.  Those numbers will likely increase.

The assailant was killed by a police SWAT team.  It is believed by police that he was the sole shooter.  He is described only as a Las Vegas resident.  Although authorities have his full identity, they are not yet releasing it.  A police spokesman said he was with a female companion, described as a small Asian woman named Marilou Danley.  She is at large, and a hunt for her is underway.  A hunt for two vehicles is also underway.

At this time, police say, they do not know the "belief system" of the dead assailant.  The basic facts point heavily to a well-planned terrorist attack, but that is our speculation. 

We will continue to monitor.

October 1,  2017