“UNLV shooting 911 calls” : Victims of UNLV Shooting Identified as Professors Patricia Navarro-Velez, Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, and Dr. Naoko Takemaru

Accident – death – Obituary News : Tragedy Strikes University of Nevada, Las Vegas as Gunman Opens Fire, Killing Three Professors

In a horrifying incident that has left the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) community in shock, a gunman identified as 67-year-old Anthony Polito entered the university’s business school on Wednesday and opened fire on faculty members. The incident, which took place around lunchtime, resulted in the deaths of three professors and left another visiting professor critically injured.

911 calls released by the police on Friday revealed the sheer terror experienced by students and faculty members as they hid in locked offices and under desks while the sound of gunshots echoed in the background. One woman caller, her voice trembling with fear, urgently pleaded for help, describing the shots as sounding like they were right next door. “Someone’s shooting. Please hurry,” she said. “I really want to go home.”

The motive behind the attack is still unclear, but authorities have revealed that Polito had been denied employment at various Nevada colleges and universities prior to the shooting. According to the police, he had also been struggling financially. Upon his death during a shootout with law enforcement, Polito was found to be carrying nine magazines for a 9 mm handgun, which he had legally purchased just last year. Additionally, he had a list of targets at the school, although none of the victims were on that list.

The devastating impact of the shooting has prompted UNLV President Keith Whitfield to make the difficult decision to close the campus for the remainder of the year. Students and faculty will not be returning to campus, and final exams scheduled for next week have been canceled. In a letter to the university community, Whitfield expressed the need for remote work and emphasized the physical and emotional trauma endured by the university community.

This tragedy has deeply affected Las Vegas, a city that is still healing from the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history, which occurred in October 2017. The shooting at a high-rise suite in Mandalay Bay claimed the lives of 60 people and injured over 400 others, happening just a few miles away from the UNLV campus.

During the attack at UNLV, a graduate student locked in his office on the fourth floor was among the first to call 911. He reported seeing an unfamiliar man before the shooting began and described the horrifying sounds of gunshots and screaming. The swift response from UNLV and city police resulted in a shootout with the shooter, culminating in his death approximately 10 minutes after the rampage began.

The victims of the shooting have been identified as professors Patricia Navarro-Velez, Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, and Naoko Takemaru. Navarro-Velez, a 39-year-old accounting professor, was focused on research in cybersecurity disclosures and data analytics. Chang, 64, was an associate professor in the Management, Entrepreneurship & Technology department and had been teaching at UNLV since 2001. Takemaru, 69, oversaw the university’s Japanese studies program and taught courses on Japanese language, culture, and business.

As investigations into the motive behind the attack continue, it has been revealed that Polito had over 150 rounds of ammunition with him. Law enforcement officials believe that he may have intended to target the student union, where students were gathered. Polito also had a “target list” of named faculty members from UNLV and East Carolina University in North Carolina, where he had previously taught.

Polito’s employment record at East Carolina University showed no disciplinary actions or red flags, according to law enforcement sources. He had been living in the Las Vegas area since at least 2018 and had worked as an adjunct faculty member at Roseman University of Health Sciences in Henderson.

President Joe Biden, who was visiting Las Vegas on Friday, expressed his condolences and support for the local community, UNLV, and law enforcement in the wake of this tragedy. The shooting serves as a stark reminder of the need for increased security measures and mental health support on college campuses. As the UNLV community mourns the loss of their beloved professors, they must also come together to heal and support one another during this challenging time..