Japanese Woman Among Three Killed in University of Nevada Shooting

Jiji Press

17:32 JST, December 9, 2023

SILICON VALLEY (Jiji Press) — The Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco confirmed on Friday that a Japanese woman was among the three individuals tragically killed in a shooting incident at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) on Wednesday.

Naoko Takemaru, a dedicated and esteemed 69-year-old associate professor, who had been teaching Japanese language and culture at UNLV for the past two decades, was identified as one of the victims, according to UNLV officials and local police authorities.

UNLV President Keith Whitfield expressed his deep sorrow and praised Takemaru’s unwavering commitment to her students, stating, “She was incredibly dedicated to her students, and her loss is deeply felt by the entire UNLV community.”

The tragic shooting incident claimed the lives of three academics, including Takemaru, a professor, and another associate professor. Additionally, one individual sustained injuries during the rampage.

The 67-year-old gunman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was killed during an exchange of fire with law enforcement officers. Local police disclosed that the assailant possessed a list of potential targets, but none of the victims were included on that list. Reports from U.S. media outlets suggest that the shooter had previously worked as an associate professor at another educational institution and had applied for a position at UNLV, but was ultimately not selected.