Las Vegas shooting victim: Japanese professor” : “University of Nevada Shooting Claims Lives of Professor Naoko Takemaru, Patricia Navarro Velez, and Jan ‘Jerry’ Chang

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Tragedy struck the University of Nevada on Wednesday when a shooting occurred on campus, resulting in the deaths of three faculty members. The third victim has been identified as Professor Naoko Takemaru, a well-respected educator in the field of Japanese Studies. According to officials at the Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner, Takemaru died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Professor Takemaru was an Associate Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Nevada, where she taught all levels of Japanese language. Colleagues and students remember her as a dedicated and passionate teacher who had a profound impact on their lives.

The gunman, identified as Anthony Polito, 67, went on a shooting spree that claimed the lives of Jan ‘Jerry’ Chang, Patricia Navarro Velez, and Professor Takemaru. Polito had allegedly been rejected for a job at the university, and it has been revealed that he sent letters filled with white powder to other colleges that turned him down.

Before the shooting, Polito mailed 22 letters to university faculty members across the U.S. The contents of these letters are not immediately known, but authorities were able to intercept some of them. The first opened letter contained an unknown white powder substance, prompting concerns about potential harm.

Investigators have searched Polito’s apartment in nearby Henderson, Nevada, and retrieved several electronic devices, including his cellphone. They also discovered a document resembling a “last will and testament.”

Polito had reportedly applied for multiple jobs at various colleges and universities in Nevada and was denied each time. Prior to his time in Nevada, he had been a professor in North Carolina, working at East Carolina University’s Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management. He resigned from his position there in January 2017.

Former students of Polito have described him as fixated on Las Vegas, frequently discussing his visits to the city and his love for the casinos. They also noted that he was thin-skinned and vindictive, often fixating on negative feedback he received from students.

The first victims of the shooting were identified as Patricia Navarro Velez, an assistant professor at the UNLV accounting department, and Jan ‘Jerry’ Chang, a longtime professor. Navarro Velez, a mother of four, was remembered as a dedicated educator with a focus on cybersecurity disclosures and assurance. Chang, a business professor with over 20 years of experience, was praised by former students for his dedication to teaching and the impact he had on their lives.

A fourth person was also shot during the rampage but is in stable condition. UNLV President Keith Whitfield expressed his condolences to the families and friends of the victims, calling the shooting the most difficult day in the history of the university.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and UNLV has temporarily closed all buildings and services, with the exception of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center and dining room. The campus community is grappling with the immense grief, loss, anger, and fear associated with this tragic event..