I kinda got the sense the Sheriff was voicing his frustrations. Surely the FBI has taken over every single aspect of this investigation by now and perhaps he doesn't believe they are focusing on that possibility.
Yes. I thought it was that, too. He seemed tired, and probably was tireder than he looked. Still, though, saying that kind of thing is irresponsible.
He registered the room in his girlfriends name, and then wired her money. Was that intended as a diversion? As the son of an FBI's Most Wanted father, perhaps he indented to go on the run. If he had large amounts of cash in that room or in the car it would suggest that.
I think the Mandalay Bay security guard, Mr. Campos, is the hero that threw a monkey wrench in the shooter's original plan.
I think you're right about that. And the sheriff did hint at it. When someone asked if he thought Paddock intended to die in the room, he said "no". But he didn't offer any explanation.
Paddock may have believed there'd be so much confusion he'd be able to slip away. The big hotels on the Strip are rabbit warrens. All the floors are alike, and there're a number of different elevator banks, not all of them going to the same floors. And although there're usually security guards by those elevators on the ground or first floor, wanting to see visitors' keycards, he might have thought they'd be called away when the shooting began.
Something I thought strange: The sheriff said Paddock had shot 200 rounds "through the door", into the hallway. But there were photos of the door with the room service cart placed in front of it. Not a single bullet hole in it that I could see. Was there more than one door to the suite?