UNLV shooting victims identified : “Naoko Takemaru Identified as Third Victim in UNLV Shooting”

Accident – death – Obituary News : LAS VEGAS — The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner has revealed the identity of the third victim who tragically lost their life in a shooting incident at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) on Wednesday.

Authorities have identified the victim as Naoko Takemaru, a 69-year-old resident of Las Vegas. Takemaru was an Associate Professor of Japanese Studies at UNLV, where she taught various levels of Japanese language, conversation, composition, grammar, culture, and Japanese-English translation.

Naoko Takemaru was a highly respected member of the UNLV faculty, known for her dedication and expertise in the field of Japanese studies. She received the prestigious William Morris Award for Excellence in Teaching from the College of Liberal Arts at UNLV, highlighting her exceptional contributions to education.

The news of Takemaru’s death comes a day after the Clark County coroner’s office released the names of the two other victims who were also killed in the tragic incident. The victims have been identified as professors Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, aged 64, and Patricia Navarro Velez, aged 39.

Cha Jan Chang was an associate professor in the Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology department of the UNLV business school. With degrees from Taiwan, Central Michigan University, and Texas A&M University, Chang was a highly accomplished educator with extensive experience. He had been teaching at UNLV since 2001, and his loss has deeply impacted the university community.

Patricia Navarro Velez, an accounting professor at UNLV, held a Ph.D. in accounting and focused her research on cybersecurity disclosures and data analytics. Navarro joined UNLV five years ago and was highly regarded for her expertise in accounting information systems.

The UNLV community, along with their families, friends, and loved ones, is mourning the loss of these three dedicated educators. University President Keith E. Whitfield expressed his heartfelt condolences, acknowledging that the shooting incident was the most difficult day in the history of the university.

Whitfield emphasized the profound impact this senseless act of violence has had on the victims and their families. He described Chang as a longtime educator who had dedicated more than 20 years of his career to teaching UNLV business students. He also commended Navarro for her significant contributions to the field of accounting and her dedication to teaching accounting information systems.

The shooting incident occurred on the UNLV campus, leaving three victims dead and another faculty member critically injured. The injured individual was immediately taken to Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, where their condition was later upgraded to stable.

Authorities have identified the shooter as Anthony Polito, who was engaged in a shootout with responding officers approximately ten minutes after the first shots were reported at UNLV’s Beam Hall. Polito had previously applied for a professorship at UNLV but was not hired. The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation.

The tragic incident has left the UNLV campus in shock and disbelief, with students, staff, and the wider community coming together to support one another during this difficult time. Flowers now rest against a UNLV campus sign, serving as a poignant reminder of the lives lost on that fateful day.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and authorities are working tirelessly to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, the UNLV community is left grappling with the immense grief and loss caused by this act of violence.

Note: The information in this article has been sourced from The Associated Press and ABC News..