Las Vegas Shooter Had Father Who Was Psychopath

In our Profiles in Terrorism series, we have noted that a profile trait shared by terrorists is that they tend to be influenced in the direction of a parent.  Stephen Paddock, the recent Las Vegas shooter responsible for killing at least 59 persons and injuring hundreds more before he committed suicide, turns out to be the son of a psychopath who was imprisoned for bank robbery committed in Arizona in 1959 and 1960.  Benjamin Hoskins Paddock escaped from federal prison in 1968 and was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted List.  The FBI’s Most Wanted poster described him as a “psychopath” with “suicidal tendencies.”  Then, under a separate name and identity he created, Benjamin Paddock became a bingo impressario in Springfield, Oregon.  However, in his new life, he once again committed serious crime.  He embezzled money and was caught and prosecuted for racketeering.

Stephen Paddock is not a paradigm terrorist, as he had no known political agenda.  However, in Profiles in Terrorism, we have noted that terrorists and “mall shooters” have a great deal in common with each other.  Being influenced in the direction of a parent, in the case of Stephen Paddock, is apparently an element of background that he shared with terrorists.

See:  http://www.repubblica.it/esteri/2017/10/02/news/las_vegas_spari_concerto-177112915/?ref=RHPPLF-BH-I0-C8-P2-S1.8-T2