Editing Stephen Paddock (section)

==Background==
Paddock, a native of Iowa, grew up in Tucson, Arizona and Sun Valley, California. He was one of three sons of [[Benjamin Paddock]], who had been convicted of bank robbery and was on the FBI's most wanted list after escaping from prison in 1969. Stephen was then 16.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/us/stephen-paddock-father-vegas.html Father's History Could Offer Insight Into Mind of Las Vegas Gunman], ''The New York Times''</ref><ref>[https://nationalpost.com/news/world/who-is-stephen-paddock-nothing-secret-or-strange-about-retiree-behind-las-vegas-shooting Who is Stephen Paddock? Las Vegas gunman's father was 'psychopathic' bank robber on FBI most-wanted list], ''The National Post''</ref>

Paddock graduated from John H. Francis Polytechnic High School in 1971.<ref>[https://www.dailynews.com/2017/10/02/suspected-las-vegas-shooter-graduated-from-sun-valley-high-school/ Suspected Las Vegas shooter graduated from Sun Valley high school], ''Los Angeles Daily News''</ref> He earned a degree in business administration from California State University, Northridge, in 1977.<ref>[https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/04/las-vegas-shooter-stephen-paddock-was-a-cal-state-northridge-graduate-university-confirms/ Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock was a Cal State Northridge graduate, university confirms], ''The Mercury News''</ref>

He was married and divorced twice, in 1977-1979, and in 1985-1990. He worked as an "internal auditor" for the predecessor of Lockheed Martin in 1985-1988.<ref>[https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/las-vegas-shooter-worked-for-predecessor-of-lockheed-martin Las Vegas shooter worked for predecessor of Lockheed Martin], ''Fox Business''</ref> He lived in Texas and Florida, including a retirement community in Melbourne, Florida from 2013-2015. He last lived in a retirement community in Mesquite, Nevada, about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

While ''Newsweek'' reported that [[ISIS]] had claimed Paddock was a convert to Islam, so far the FBI has reported no evidence of that. ISIS claimed that in his alleged membership of ISIS, Paddock's name was Abu Abdul Barr al-Amriki.<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/02/isis-claim-of-paddocks-link-is-a-sign-of-terror-groups-desperation.html ISIS claim of link to Las Vegas shooter is a sign terror group is 'desperate' to remain relevant, experts say], ''CNBC''</ref><ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/las-vegas-shooting-isis-claim-no-proof-stephen-paddock-linked-terror-group/ ISIS claims Las Vegas shooting, offers no proof], ''CBS News''</ref> Officials with the Church of the SubGenius did report he was a member of their church, but that he held no position within the church and they did not condone his actions. According to some reports, Paddock described himself as an atheist and often said to his Catholic girlfriend "your God doesn't love me".<ref>[https://www.casino.org/news/las-vegas-gunman-told-girlfriend-god-doesnt-love-me-prior-to-attack/ Las Vegas Gunman Told Girlfriend ‘God Doesn’t Love Me’ Prior to Attack, FBI Concludes Investigation], ''Casino''</ref>

His motive for the shooting is as yet unknown. Prior to the shooting, he had no criminal record. While a frequent gambler, he was apparently financially successful.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2019/01/29/689821599/fbi-finds-no-motive-in-las-vegas-shooting-closes-investigation FBI Finds No Motive In Las Vegas Shooting, Closes Investigation], ''NPR''</ref>