“Dr Naoko Takemaru Identified as Third Victim in UNLV Shooting”

Accident – death – Obituary News : The third victim of the tragic shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has been identified as Dr. Naoko Takemaru, according to UNLV president Keith Whitfield. Dr. Takemaru’s next of kin were informed by the coroner’s office. This news comes after the first two victims, professor Cha Jan Chang, known as “Jerry,” and assistant professor Patricia Navarro Velez, were identified on Thursday.

Las Vegas police have released new video footage showing the suspect, Anthony Polito, moments after his shooting rampage on the UNLV campus. Investigators have revealed that Polito had a “target list,” but none of his alleged victims were on it. Polito, a 67-year-old career college professor, had recently applied for a job at UNLV but was not accepted. He had previously worked as a professor at colleges in Georgia and North Carolina and had a personal website where he claimed to have solved the Zodiac Killer case.

According to police, Polito had a previous criminal history of computer trespass in Virginia in 1992. He was armed with a Taurus nine-millimeter handgun and had brought 11 magazines to the scene with him. Nine loaded magazines were found on his person.

One of Polito’s former students, Paul Whittington, revealed that Polito often talked about his regular trips to Las Vegas and seemed obsessed with anonymous student reviews at the end of each semester. Whittington mentioned that Polito fixated on negative feedback and would remember the faces of students who gave him bad reviews.

The motive for the shooting is still unknown, and investigations are expected to take a significant amount of time. Las Vegas police are searching an apartment in Henderson, Nevada, believed to be connected to the gunman. They have seized Polito’s cellphone and professional papers to look for possible clues regarding the motive.

UNLV students have expressed their fear and lack of safety on campus following the shooting. Shainna Alipon, a journalism student, recalled the horror of hearing gunfire and the realization that she was a journalist covering the event. Another student, Tinio, shared his concerns about the future and the safety of his loved ones.

The three victims killed in the shooting have been identified as assistant professor Patricia Navarro-Velez, Dr. Cha Jan Chang, and Dr. Naoko Takemaru. Navarro-Velez joined UNLV five years ago after completing her PhD in accounting from the University of Central Florida. Chang was a longtime educator of management information systems and had spent over 20 years teaching at UNLV.

The shooting took place in Beam Hall, where the UNLV Lee Business School is located. Anthony Polito allegedly opened fire on the fourth floor before moving through several other floors. An active shooter alert was sent to students and faculty, and police officers quickly responded to the scene. Polito was confronted outside the building and engaged in a shootout with the police before being shot dead.

The motive for the shooting is still under investigation, and police are working to establish any connections between the victims and the gunman. The UNLV community is mourning the loss of three faculty members and grappling with the aftermath of this tragic event..