Patricia Navarro Velez: UNLV Faculty Member Among Victims of Campus Shooting

Accident – death – Obituary News : **Title: UNLV Shooting: Gunman’s Disturbing Preparations Unveiled, Three Faculty Members killed**

*Subtitle: Authorities uncover shocking details about the shooter’s actions prior to the tragic incident*

In a press conference held on Thursday afternoon, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill disclosed new information about the UNLV campus shooting that claimed the lives of three faculty members. The gunman, identified as 67-year-old Anthony James Pulito, had mailed at least 22 envelopes to education professionals across the country, each lacking a return address. Carrying a Taurus handgun and 11 magazines of ammunition, Pulito entered the campus with sinister intentions.

One of the envelopes sent by Pulito contained a suspicious white powdery substance, which is currently being analyzed by the police to determine its nature and potential threat. The investigation into this matter is ongoing.

The Clark County Coroner has identified two of the victims as Patricia Navarro Velez, a 39-year-old associate accounting professor from Las Vegas, and Cha Jan Chang, a 64-year-old business professor residing in Henderson. The third victim’s identity is yet to be released, pending notification of their next of kin. Both Chang and Navarro Velez had offices in Beam Hall, the building where the shooting initially took place, according to the university faculty directory.

Although Pulito had applied for several positions at Nevada’s higher learning institutions, he was denied employment. However, Sheriff McMahill refrained from stating that these rejections were the motive behind the shooting. Nevertheless, during the investigation, authorities discovered a target list in Pulito’s Henderson apartment, including individuals from the university campus and faculty members from Eastern Carolina University. Law enforcement officials have contacted nearly everyone on these lists, ensuring their safety. The exception is one individual who was on an international flight at the time.

Sheriff McMahill emphasized that the victims killed were not named as targets on Pulito’s lists. Two of the deceased victims were found on the third floor of Beam Hall, while another was discovered on the fourth floor. The surviving victim, who is believed to have been on the fifth floor, is currently in a critical condition, with his status downgraded from stable.

The rapid response of campus police played a crucial role in mitigating further casualties. Within a mere 78 seconds of receiving the report of shots fired in Beam Hall at 11:44 a.m., the first campus police officer arrived at the scene. The officer was soon joined by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers, and together they bravely entered the building without hesitation. A surveillance camera captured the ensuing exchange of gunfire between Pulito and the law enforcement officers at 11:55 a.m.

Sheriff McMahill stated that Pulito was struck multiple times during the confrontation and subsequently collapsed. Praising the heroic actions of the officers, UNLV Police Chief Adam Garcia commended their courage in risking their lives to protect others. The sheriff also revealed that Pulito possessed an additional 150 rounds of ammunition, indicating a more devastating outcome had the officers not intervened.

Expressing gratitude for the officers’ swift response, UNLV President Keith Whitfield echoed Sheriff McMahill’s sentiments. Whitfield acknowledged that the campus police’s prompt actions prevented a larger tragedy from unfolding. Meanwhile, the university is now in discussions regarding enhanced security measures that will maintain their commitment to serving the public while ensuring safety.

The surviving victim managed to leave Beam Hall and was met by Metro officers, who promptly placed him in a police car and transported him to Sunrise Hospital in an arriving Community Ambulance. The timely medical attention he received at the hospital likely saved his life.

Inside Pulito’s apartment, law enforcement officers discovered an unsettling scene. An arrow pointing downwards was found on a chair, leading to what authorities described as a “last will and testament.” Additionally, an eviction notice affixed to the shooter’s door indicated his financial difficulties. However, there were no prior indications or clues that would have alerted authorities to Pulito’s intentions before the tragic events unfolded on Wednesday.

The Taurus handgun used by Pulito was legally purchased in 2022, and his criminal record includes a computer trespass offense in Virginia dating back to 1992.

As the investigation continues, the UNLV community mourns the loss of its cherished faculty members and rallies together to support those affected by this senseless act of violence..