text: As graphic images (like the one above) of the suspected Mandalay Bay massacre gunman Stephen Paddock circulate across the internet, the question of who is leaking those crime scene photographs has become a point of concern for Las Vegas investigators. 
   
   In a press conference last night, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Undersheriff Kevin McMahill noted: 
   
   “There was a question about the validity of the crime scene photos that somebody had leaked. I can confirm those are, in fact, photos from inside of the room; they are in fact photos of our suspect, and as the sheriff mentioned previously, we have all opened up an internal investigation to determine the source of the leaks of those photos to the public.” 
   
   As leaks from major investigations have become a fact of life for municipal police departments, LawNewz wondered what penalties those leakers might find themselves subject to. While a cursory foray into the niceties of the Nevada Revised Statutes turned up no particular state laws on point here, previous high-profile leaks made by those within or close to police departments may offer a bit of insight. 
   
   In 2009, photographs of pop star Rihanna were leaked by (now former) Los Angeles Police Department (“LAPD”) officer Rebecca Reyes. Rihanna had recently been attacked during a domestic violence incident with then-boyfriend Chris Brown and the investigation was still underway as the photos made their way to the press, starting with TMZ. LAPD higher-ups then made it their business to find out who had taken and leaked the photos. After an administrative hearing and appeal, Reyes lost her job–while escaping criminal prosecution. 
   
   In 2016, following the terrorist attack at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England, crime scene photographs made their way to the front page of the New York Times. British investigators were furious and pinned the blame on U.S. law enforcement. President Donald Trump echoed that fury, calling for an official investigation. It’s unclear what that investigation determined–or if one even occurred. However, the fallout from those leaks was so great that British intelligence began withholding information from their U.S. partners for at least a brief period of time. And anyone on the receiving end of a U.S. government investigation into leaks would probably fare none too well. Just ask Chelsea Manning (or Reality Winner—or the 12 other people prosecuted by Barack Obama for leaking) about that. 
   
   All this is to say that the leaker of the Paddock photographs–even if they’re not found guilty of an actual crime–likely won’t receive anything approaching leniency if and when their identity is discovered. And that could be sooner than later. Las Vegas Metro Police Department also has an internal affairs department which investigates situations like this, and an internal process for doling out any potential discipline including suspension and/or termination. 
   
   At last night’s press conference, McMahill also pleaded with the press for “patience,” noting that no one wanted a speedier resolution than police and the victims’ families. He said, “We’re days away from the completion of the processing of the room [at Mandalay Bay].” 
   
   For an FAQ promoted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, see here. 
   
   [image via screengrab] 
   
   Follow Colin Kalmbacher on Twitter: @colinkalmbacher ||||| Images from inside Stephen Paddock’s Las Vegas hotel room reveal a jumble of high-powered weapons, dozens of scattered shell casings, a possible note, along with his corpse. 
   
   The leaked photographs, some of them too graphic to publish, suggest Paddock killed himself with a shot to the head shortly before a police SWAT team stormed his room. Some believe the images may contain a possible note or letter, 
   
   The leaked images, which were first published by MailOnline, provide a striking insight into the sheer number of weapons the 64-year-old had amassed in the days before he opened fire. 
   
   EXCLUSIVE: these are 2 of 23 guns found in #LasVegas shooter’s hotel room at #MandalayBay - hammer, bipod, optics, ammo. 59 lives. Chilling. pic.twitter.com/gManlUIeZI — Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) October 3, 2017 
   
   Police have said they recovered 23 guns from inside the hotel and believe Paddock used 10 suitcases to take them up to his room. 
   
   They were taken inside room 32135 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel located on the Las Vegas Strip and leaked to the media. In addition to a number of high-powered weapons, they show shell casings and guns mounted on tripods. 
   
   The images also show Paddock’s body, his legs dressed in dark trousers and slip-on shoes. 
   
   Las Vegas sheriff says Paddock may have been 'radicalised' 
   
   On a table close to his feet, there appears to be a roll of electrical tape, along with what may be a sheet of paper and a pen. 
   
   At this stage, police have not mentioned recovering any sort of note. Indeed, they have admitted they are scrambling to identify a motive for his decision to open fire on a country music concert, attended by 22,000 people. 
   
   Police said Paddock took his own life before a SWAT team stormed his room (CNN ) 
   
   They have said they hope that his girlfriend, Marilou Danley, who returned to the US on Wednesday from a visit to Asia, may be able to provide some insights. 
   
   Officials met her when she arrived as Los Angles and whisked her out of a side door in a wheelchair. Images show her wearing a baseball cap. 
   
   On Tuesday, Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo told reporters he hoped and expected she would provide information about Paddock that would be of of help to them. 
   
   Las Vegas shooting – in pictures 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   15 show all Las Vegas shooting – in pictures 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   1/15 People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty 
   
   2/15 People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty 
   
   3/15 People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty 
   
   4/15 A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson 
   
   5/15 People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty 
   
   6/15 A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty 
   
   7/15 People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck 
   
   8/15 FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus 
   
   9/15 Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty 
   
   10/15 An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty 
   
   11/15 Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus 
   
   12/15 A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher 
   
   13/15 A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty 
   
   14/15 Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus 
   
   15/15 Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA 
   
   “We anticipate some information from her shortly,” he said. 
   
   Other photographs that were leaked to the media show Paddock’s 32nd floor room room from the outside, with its door broken and covered with police tape. 
   
   In one of those external shots, that look into the room, a rifle can be seen on the floor of the hotel suite, with a crime scene tag next to it. 
   
   The image also show that Paddock had mounted a camera inside the room, perhaps to film his actions or monitor police located at the venue. 
   
   There was another camera in the the peep hole of the hotel door. “I anticipate he was looking for anyone coming to arrest him,” said Mr Lombardo.
target: – Las Vegas police have confirmed the legitimacy of photos circulating the internet showing guns, ammunition, and the corpse of Stephen Paddock inside a Mandalay Bay hotel room, LawNewz reports. The next step is finding—and punishing—whoever leaked the gruesome crime scene photos. The New York Times has stitched together some of the non-graphic leaked photos to give a complete view of the inside of Paddock's hotel room and its contents, which included more than 20 guns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition carried up to the room inside 10 suitcases. According to the Independent, some people online believe one of the photos shows a note left behind by Paddock, but that appears to not have been the case. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department undersheriff says the department has "opened up an internal investigation to determine the source of the leaks." While whoever leaked the crime scene photos would face consequences, it's unclear what those consequences would be. LawNewz notes a Los Angeles Police Department officer who leaked photos of Rihanna following a domestic violence incident in 2009 was fired from her job but didn't face criminal charges. Crime scene photos leaked from the terrorist attack at an Ariana Grande concert last year in England resulted in British intelligence cutting US intelligence off from certain information.