History Today: How music festival at Vegas become one of America's deadliest mass shooting

On October 1, 2017, the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history happened when a gunman fired into a crowd of 22,000 people at a country music festival in Las Vegas.

Fifty-eight people were killed, and over 850 others were injured during the final night of the show.

Also on this day in 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Further, on this day in 1946, twelve senior Nazi officials were sentenced to death by the International War Crimes Tribunal in Nuremberg.

As part of Firstpost Explainers’ History Today series, here’s a look at what happened on October 1:

2017 Las Vegas shooting

Eight years ago, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd at a music festival in Las Vegas, killing 58 people and injuring more than 800.

The shooting lasted 10 minutes, but the number of casualties made it the deadliest mass shooting in US history at the time.

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Paddock, who lived in Mesquite, Nevada, targeted concert-goers on the Las Vegas Strip from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel.

He had checked into the hotel several days before the attack.

At 10:05 p.m., he began firing at the crowd using 23 guns, 12 of which were fitted with bump stocks, a device that allows semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly.

Over the 10 minutes, he fired more than 1,100 rounds.

Authorities arrived at his suite at 10:17 p.m. but did not enter until 11:20 p.m. Paddock was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His motives remain unknown.

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The attack shocked the nation and renewed debate over gun control, with advocates calling for the role of bump stocks in increasing casualties. Some states later moved to ban the devices.

People’s Republic of China was established

On this day in 1949, Mao Zedong declared the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing, with most of the Chinese mainland under the control of the communist People’s Liberation Army.

China’s long history of isolation had allowed its culture to develop deeply, but left it unprepared for contact with technologically advanced foreign powers from the mid-19th century.

This period of decline and vulnerability contributed to a revolution in the early 20th century, which ultimately led to the establishment of a communist government in 1949.

The founding of the People’s Republic of China reshaped global politics, and the country has since become one of the world’s most influential nations.

Nuremberg trials come to an end

On October 1, 1946, twelve senior Nazis were sentenced to death by the International War Crimes Tribunal in Nuremberg.

Those condemned to hanging included Joachim von Ribbentrop, Nazi foreign minister; Hermann Goering, founder of the Gestapo and head of the German air force; and Wilhelm Frick, minister of the interior.

Seven others, including Rudolf Hess, Adolf Hitler’s former deputy, received prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life. Three were acquitted.

The trial, which lasted nearly ten months, was conducted by an international tribunal with representatives from the United States, the USSR, France and Great Britain.

It was the first trial of its kind, with defendants facing charges from crimes against peace to crimes of war and crimes against humanity.

This Day, That Year

1994: The Republic of Palau became an independent sovereign state.

2024: Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as president of Mexico, becoming the first woman and first Jewish person to hold the office.