Boston 'on the radar screen' of Las Vegas gunman, police say

BOSTON — Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox, may have been a target of the gunman behind the Las Vegas massacre.

Investigators said Stephen Paddock researched hotels near Fenway and one other location in the months before the shooting.

"The FBI reached out to us to let us know Boston was on the radar screen," Boston police Commissioner William Evans said.

MORE: Boston Police: Las Vegas shooter researched locations including Fenway

The ballpark is expect to host thousands of fans this weekend when the Red Sox return from Houston, and fans can expect to see plenty of increased security.

The area surrounding Fenway Park always has security measures in place before Sox games.

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Fans have to walk through metal detectors just to walk onto Yawkey Way just hours ahead of the first pitch.

But with this latest report about the Las Vegas shooter, police said they’re stepping up security even more.

That not only includes more security this weekend at the playoff game and other events throughout the city, but also in the surrounding areas. Police said they have reached out to nearby hotels.

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Evans confirmed the FBI found out the Las Vegas gunman researched Fenway Park and the Boston Center for the Performing Arts.

Evans said he doesn’t know when the shooter looked up the area on the internet.

“We just have information that he was on possible sites looking at Boston,” Evans said. “There’s nothing to indicate he made it here or he never stepped foot in Boston. All we know is he was looking at sites in the area of Fenway Park.”

The shooter also reportedly researched the city of Chicago and even reportedly booked a hotel room overlooking the Lalapalooza music festival there.

But there’s no evidence he showed up in that location, either.

Meanwhile, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said there are no known threats to the city.

"This potentially could have been our city, but thank God it wasn't," Walsh said. "I have full faith and confidence in the work the police department does."

Cox Media Group