CMU victim shooting : “Victim Identified: Professor Cha Jan Chang Among Three Faculty Members Killed in UNLV Shooting”

Accident – death – Obituary News : One of the victims of the tragic shooting at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) on Wednesday has been identified as 64-year-old Professor Cha Jan Chang, a distinguished alumnus of Central Michigan University (CMU). The news of Chang’s death has sent shockwaves through the academic community, as his contributions to the field of management information systems were widely recognized.

Chang, affectionately known as Jerry, obtained his Master of Science in computer science from CMU in May of 1986. He dedicated more than 20 years of his career to teaching a generation of UNLV Business School students, leaving an indelible mark on the institution and its community.

The second victim has been identified as 39-year-old Patricia Navarro Velez, an assistant professor at UNLV. The third victim’s identity is being withheld as authorities try to contact their family. The post on X, formerly known as Twitter, did not provide any further details about the third victim.

The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, but authorities have revealed some information about the shooter, 67-year-old Anthony Polito. It has been discovered that Polito had been denied jobs at various colleges and universities in Nevada, suggesting a possible motive related to his professional frustrations.

Polito was killed in a shootout with police after he opened fire on the UNLV campus. Upon searching his body, authorities found nine magazines for a 9 mm handgun, which he had legally purchased last year. Additionally, they discovered a list of targets at the school, none of whom were shot during the attack. This suggests that Polito may have intended to carry out a more extensive and indiscriminate attack.

The timeline of events leading up to the shooting reveals a chilling sequence of actions. Polito arrived at UNLV around 15 minutes before the shooting, parking his 2007 Lexus in a lot south of the business school. He then entered Beam Hall, a building within the business school, where the first reports of gunfire emerged at 11:45 a.m.

The response from law enforcement was swift, with university and city police quickly converging on the scene. UNLV police Chief Adam Garcia confirmed that the first university officer arrived within 78 seconds of the gunfire report. During the confrontation, Polito shot at the officers before they fired back, ultimately killing him.

Witnesses described moments of terror as students and professors sought shelter in classrooms and offices while the gunman roamed the top three floors of UNLV’s Lee Business School. The university and city police worked together to secure the building and ensure the safety of those inside.

Investigators are still trying to determine the exact motive behind the attack. Polito’s application for multiple jobs at colleges and universities in Nevada, along with his financial struggles and the discovery of a “target list,” suggest a complex set of circumstances that may have contributed to his violent actions.

The tragedy at UNLV has once again shaken the Las Vegas community, which is still recovering from the devastating mass shooting in 2017. The university has announced that it will remain closed on Friday but is tentatively scheduled to reopen next week for final exams.

As the investigation continues, it is essential to remember and honor the lives lost in this senseless act of violence. Professor Cha Jan Chang’s contributions to academia will be remembered, and his loss is deeply felt by the UNLV and CMU communities..