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Mass shooting suspect's father was on FBI Most Wanted List

Posted at 4:03 AM, Oct 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-03 07:39:25-04

New details are emerging about the accused mass shooting suspect Stephen Paddock.

That includes information about his father, Benjamin Paddock, being on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted List.

Paddock's father is wanted for robbing several banks in Phoenix, Arisona, in the late 1950s and early '60s.

Eventually, he was arrested in Las Vegas. However, he escaped jail in Texas, fled to California, and changed his name to Bruce Ericksen.

From there, he went to Springfield in 1977 and opened a bingo parlor, which was listed as a religious institution.

Police say that the bingo parlor was really used for gambling.

Bruce Ericksen has a lengthy criminal history. Police say Ericksen is long gone by now but some wonder if the actions of the father inspired Stephen Paddock to commit mass murder.