[Anderson Cooper, Cnn:] Good evening from Las Vegas. We are learning much more tonight, much of it obviously deeply disturbing about the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. We're learning about the gunman's arsenal, about how long he'd been buying weapons, about the cameras he set up inside and outside the gunner's nest he created in that VIP suite on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel behind me. Now, an earlier briefing, Las Vegas sheriff said there was much more they now knew, that they'd likely be making public over the next 24 hours. Now, it's possible we may hear some of that tonight. As we always do, we'll be bringing you obviously that press conference and also, more importantly, the stories of all those whose lives were lost. First, we go to CNN's Alex Marquardt, for what we've been learning throughout the day. Cameras were set up inside and outside the room.
[Alex Marquardt, Cnn Senior National Correspondent:] Yes, that was some of the information we got from the sheriff earlier. He said there had been extensive preplanning and that was part of that. Those cameras set up inside and outside that hotel room up there on the 32nd floor. He said that they believe that they were for transmission and not for broadcast. Meaning that if he was inside, he could monitor anybody who might be coming to take him into custody. And it appeared they may have worked because we know that as the police and security teams moved into that room, they took on fire from the shooter. In fact one of the security guards took a bullet to the leg. Now, we know all of the cameras had been handed over to the FBI. Obviously, if there's any sort of recording capability, that could be extremely important in this investigation.
[Cooper:] Is it known yet the kind of time it took? We know the first responders with the hotel security figured out where the room was, as you said one of them took a bullet. They basically cordoned off the area. They got the people evacuated from other rooms. Do we know yet how long it took SWAT to come and actually breach the door?
[Marquardt:] Yes, an hour twenty, all told. And this is what we've been trying to figure out over the past few days. We know that on Sunday night, at 10:08 p.m., the first shots rang out. And almost immediately, there were calls put in to the authorities who very quickly realized where the shots were coming from, from up there. But they initially assumed it was on the 50th or 60th floor. So, the security teams starting going floor to floor. We heard from the sheriff today that those bullets only rained down for nine minutes. Then we know about that gunfire inside, and then after that gunfire, the security team and police, they were treated waited for SWAT, it wasn't until 11:20 p.m. So, an hour and 12 minutes later that they put explosives around the door, breached it, went in and that's when they found the shooter who had apparently committed suicide.
[Cooper:] I mean, not that any motive would make any sense, but do we know more about motives?
[Marquardt:] In short, no. That's one of the reasons that the authorities have been hesitant to call this domestic terror, because they don't know the motivation yet. The sheriff was asked again today about motive, he said that they don't have one. They will obviously be combing through all of the evidence they can fine here, at the home in Mesquite, at another home in Reno. We do know that he's been collecting weapons for some 20 years. At last count, there were some 49 weapons. But some of the best evidence could come from his girlfriend who as we speak, coming back to the country.
[Cooper:] Right. What do we know about her?
[Marquardt:] Well, initially, right after the attack, she was named as a person of interest, and then the authorities said that she wasn't. Tonight, we learned from the sheriff that she still is a person of interest. However, she was not in the country at the time of the attack. She was in the Philippines, which also raises other questions because we know that the shooter sent at one point $100,000 to the Philippines. We just don't know when and to whom. So, she's on her by the way back to the U.S. as we speak. They will be questioning her almost immediately. The sheriff said that he expects information here shortly, that information obviously be very valuable in terms of determining that motive.
[Cooper:] Is it known at this point when the survivors who lost loved ones, when they will be able to bring your loved ones home?
[Marquardt:] No, I mean, the authorities here are still going through the identification process. We know from the sheriff's department they are almost completely there.
[Cooper:] Nearly everybody's been identified?
[Marquardt:] Everybody's been identified. So, presumably, as soon as they have been identified and the evidence that has been gathered is necessary. Hopefully the families will be able to take their loved ones home and laid to rest.
[Cooper:] So, unbelievable. Alex, appreciate the reporting. Again, we're expecting a press conference at 9:00 p.m. Eastern tonight. We're, of course, going to bring that to you live with all the latest information. We spent some of the day today with a woman named Heather Milton. She's an orthopedic surgeon from a small town called Big Sandy, Tennessee. She and her husband Sonny, who's a registered nurse, were here because they loved going to concerts. That was their thing. Heather says that when the first firing started, Sonny grabbed her and pulled her to safety. He saved her life and he lost his own life doing it. As you know, we don't name the killers on this broadcast. We don't show you their picture. We don't believe history should remember the name of those who took the lives of others. We don't believe that history should remember the name of the Columbine killers. I always think it's strange that everybody can name the names of the Columbine killers, but how of the names of the victims from Columbine can you remember? Like Dave Sanders, who spent four hours on the ground bleeding to death, or from Aurora, probably remember the name of the Aurora shooter, but how many remember the name of Jessica Ghawi who was an inspiring sports writer who died there. Sandy Hook, probably remember the name of the killer of Sandy Hook, but how many people remember the name of Grace McDonald who died there? How many remember the name of Noah Posner and all the others? We hope that history does not remember the name of this killer. We hope that history remembers the names of all those who lost their lives. I talked to Heather about her beloved Sonny earlier today. What do you want people to know about sonny?
[Heather Melton, Wife Of Shooting Victim Sonny Melton:] I think I kind of answered this question a little bit. But, he was such a kind hearted, loving, caring person and people felt that as soon as they met him. There's not a person's life that he didn't touch that wouldn't say those things. He was the most selfless person that I've ever met and even until his last breath, he proved that.
[Cooper:] His mom said that he has an infectious smile.
[Melton:] Yes. Everybody remembers his smile. And all of the pictures that are coming out I think everybody can see that. His name was Sonny but he literally was sunshine when he walked in the room and he smiled.
[Cooper:] Is that what you first noticed about him?
[Melton:] Absolutely.
[Cooper:] It was?
[Melton:] Yes.
[Cooper:] How'd you meet?
[Melton:] Well, we met in a bar. And he just came up with that huge smile. He said the minute he saw me that I stole his heart. And it wasn't necessarily the relationship that was supposed to be. It wasn't textbook.
[Cooper:] How so?
[Melton:] Well, I'm a lot older than he is and I had been going through a divorce and I had three children and he was young and never been married. So, a lot of people thought that that shouldn't happen, but I don't think there's anybody who's ever been around us as a couple who didn't feel how much we loved each other. And he he saved me before,
[Cooper:] That you had that love in your life?
[Melton:] Yes, I think it's so rare honestly. But there was never a minute that I doubted his love for me.
[Cooper:] Especially Sunday night.
[Melton:] Yes.
[Cooper:] He saved your life?
[Melton:] He did. And he would do it over and over again.
[Cooper:] Do you want to talk about that night at all?
[Melton:] Yes, I mean, it's horrifically vivid. It's not an image that probably will ever be out of my mind. But we were having such a good time, and probably
[Cooper:] Going to concerts was is your thing.
[Melton:] Yes, we loved going to concerts, we did it every single month. We went to at least one concert.
[Cooper:] You're wearing his favorite concert shirt.
[Melton:] Eric Church was his guy. And we came to Vegas to see Eric Church, and actually, we have tickets to go tomorrow night to see him in Nashville. And we were having a great time and it was Sunday night, the last night. And he had just met Big & Rich.
[Cooper:] You went backstage?
[Melton:] We went backstage and it was such a highlight of our day. And we went out and they performed and they sang "God Bless America". And everybody was singing at the top of their lungs and had their phones lit up. It was just so moving and just really true. Like, we talked about what a great atmosphere we were in. There was all aged people. There were kids there. There were elderly. There were vets. You know, all races. It was just like people there to have a good time. People were respectful of each other. It was kindness which we feel like is lacking so much in our world today. And, we had talked about even leaving early that night because it was just exhausting long day. We both said, well we're having so much fun, like we'll just stay. And we were in the center of the stage, relatively close to the front. And I heard the fire some shots go off and I looked at him, and I thought I said to him, I think that was a gun. He said, no, I think it was probably fireworks. I mean, everybody thought that, it was so loud. And people were shoulder to shoulder, we were just packed in there. And then we heard more, and then I saw Jason Aldean run off the stage and everybody just started running. And there was just a barrage of shots fired and rounds and rounds and it seemed like an eternity.
[Cooper:] Did you know what it was at that point?
[Melton:] At that point, we sort of know, but you couldn't tell where it was coming from. Was it somebody on the crowd or if it was happening on the street, not even where we were? Then I started feeling the ricochets of the bullets on the ground.
[Cooper:] You actually felt that?
[Melton:] Yes. I said to Sonny, let's get down. He said, no, we can't get down we'll get tramped. And he grabbed me from behind and we started running in a duck position.
[Cooper:] He was running behind you, holding you?
[Melton:] Yes. And I felt him get shot in the back. We fell to the ground, and I just remember seeing people all around me on the ground. And I was trying to talk to him and he wasn't responding, and I started doing CPR on him. And people were yelling at me to get down, and I kept feeling the shots all around me. And I was just screaming for somebody to help me. And then, finally, the shots stopped and he started bleeding from his mouth. I knew he was probably gone but I still wanted to help. And so, luckily some amazing people, I don't even know who they are, came and helped me carry him off the field, and it was quite a distance. When we got there
[Cooper:] They helped you pick him up?
[Melton:] Yes. He threw him one man threw him over his shoulder and we ran to a field. We got to a truck with the bed open and they put him in the back of the bed with two other victims. I jumped in and the truck took off down the road. And those two men who did CPR on Sonny and another man all the way to the hospital.
[Cooper:] Driving in the back of the truck?
[Melton:] Just blaring down the road with the horns honking and cops were going in the other direction towards the scene. I just wanted somebody to help us.
[Cooper:] You were hoping someone would give you an escort or something to the hospital
[Melton:] Something, yes. I mean, I don't know if it would have made any difference, but you always have that hope that if he got integrated or got blood you know, he would have been OK. By the time we got to the hospital, they started coating him but they didn't very for long.
[Cooper:] You're a surgeon. You're used to being in the hospital scene.
[Melton:] Yes. It's hard not to want to be in there trying to help them.
[Cooper:] Is that where they told you he had passed? How do you how do you deal with this? I've talked to people in the past who say sometimes it's minute by minute, second by second?
[Melton:] I mean, I think that's where you have to start, second by second. You know, I cannot imagine my life without him. I'm not really sure how you do that, because it's not something you learn in life. Like, you don't just learn to start tying your shoes and, you know, or riding a bike, you're never prepared for something like this. I have an amazing supportive family and so does Sonny and I think that will be my crutch. But we all loved him, so this is hard for everybody, you know, and we just have to be there for each other.
[Cooper:] You worked together also?
[Melton:] Yes.
[Cooper:] He worked in the operating room with you.
[Melton:] Yes, he had in the last few months being my surgical assistant. We wanted to be together as much as possible, you know? Some people go to work to get away from their significant others.
[Cooper:] I know a lot of couples who don't like to work together.
[Melton:] Yes, and I know that feeling, but I we wanted to be together. I mean, there was hardly I know we are newlyweds but we had been together for about five years. But I don't remember a time when we were walking where we weren't holding hands. We feel asleep holding hands. It was you know, my mom talked about one time where he just walked by and he just had to touch my shoulder. We just wanted to be together.
[Cooper:] Did you have a chance to say good-bye to him?
[Melton:] I mean, I don't know, I hope he heard me in his last breaths. I went into the trauma room and he had already passed and I kissed him and hugged him, but I was pretty quickly escorted out of there because there were more traumas coming in.
[Cooper:] You were saying before when we first met, that you're not thinking about the person who did this, you don't really care about.
[Melton:] I don't even know his name. I don't want to know his name. I don't care what his motive was because in my mind, there's no justifiable motive, reason, belief that could account for what he did and it won't change the fact that he killed my husband and a lot of other innocent people. I don't ever want to hear his name. I don't want to see his face. And that's a big reason why I'm talking to you, because I want to be here doing this, but I cannot let a monster like that overshadow the people that he took. And I want everybody to know what amazing person was taken from this planet senselessly. He brought joy to so many people. He brought love to a small community. Our community is reeling with pain over this.
[Cooper:] Is the place you live now is the town you grew up?
[Melton:] Yes.
[Cooper:] Pretty small town?
[Melton:] Yes. Just over 500 people. We love it there.
[Cooper:] Everybody must have known him at one time.
[Melton:] Yes. And his family, they've been there for generations. Yes, they love him.
[Cooper:] Why do you think he wanted to be a nurse?
[Melton:] He just had the most nurturing spirit. I have received dozens of messages from people who cared for and their families, that he made them feel so comforted and so he just made them feel like he cared about them and I think that was just his nature. And it could be a nursing or it could be in going to mow somebody's lawn. He just had a way of caring for people and just an amazing bedside manner. He would have made an amazing doctor but he just like to care for people. It is the field that I was in also and so it was what we talked about and I think that kind of gave him a little bit of interest in doing that.
[Cooper:] Almost sounds like had he been able to get you to safety, seems like he's the kind of guy that would have gone back to help other people.
[Melton:] Yes, we actually talked about that, when we said if he was one of the people who had survived and gotten me out, he would have been running those people running back in. I have no doubt in my mind. He sacrificed his life for me. I think he'd do it for other people he didn't even know. I just feel that he is he always puts people above himself for other people.
[Cooper:] It's also a situation like this, to see people reaching out to, you know the guy who put him over the shoulder and ran, the guy who drove the truck.
[Melton:] Yes.
[Cooper:] It gives you hope.
[Melton:] Right. And I was yes, I mean there was one good people, there was one bad person there that night. And I don't know the names of those people, but I was in that emergency room by myself, I'm not from here, I had only come here with him. But the people there embraced me and those two men who were giving him CPR stayed by my side the entire night. And, they said that Sonny will always be part of their life. But in the chaos of everything that was going on, you know, I don't remember their names. I barely what was happening around me. But I'm grateful for people like that. And there were a lot of people there like that, that night saving other people and putting their own safety, you know, beyond, behind what they were doing for other people.
[Cooper:] Yes. Heather, I wish you continued strength and peace in the days ahead. Thank you.
[Melton:] Thank you.
[Cooper:] Sonny Melton was just 29 years old. He will be remembered as will all the others who lost their lives. We'll be right back. We're going to have a press conference starting at 9:00 from authorities with all the latest. We'll have that. We'll have President Trump's visit to San Juan today and all the other news here from Las Vegas.