The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus saw a shooting incident on Wednesday morning. The gunman, identified as a 67-year-old former college professor, resulted in the loss of three lives and left another victim wounded.
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The shooter, a 67-year-old former college professor, had reportedly applied for a job at UNLV but was unsuccessful in securing the position.
Law enforcement sources revealed that he had previously worked at educational institutions in Georgia and North Carolina.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear, as authorities have yet to release the shooter’s name, awaiting notification of the family.
The incident unfolded around 11:45 a.m. when shots were fired on the fourth floor of the UNLV’s Lee Business School building.
The campus, situated just two miles from the famous Las Vegas Strip, was thrown into chaos as students and faculty ran to find shelter.
Campus police responded quickly, engaging the shooter in a firefight that led to his demise. The shooting reportedly continued across multiple floors before being neutralized outside the building.
Three individuals lost their lives in the attack, and another victim was critically injured. The injured person was initially listed in critical condition but later stabilized at a local hospital.
The names of the victims have not been released, and the university community is left mourning the loss of lives.
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The courageous response of the university police minimizing the devastation. Two university police detectives engaged the shooter in a shootout, preventing further harm.
Authorities have commended the actions of these officers, addressing that their response likely saved additional lives.
The campus was evacuated, and law enforcement conducted a thorough search of buildings to ensure the safety of everyone on campus.
The UNLV community, over 30,000 students, is now struggling with the aftermath of this act of violence. The university has canceled all classes through Sunday, providing time for students and faculty to process the trauma.
President Keith E. Whitfield expressed his condolences and described the incident as unfathomable. The toll on the survivors and witnesses is immeasurable, as many recall the fear and panic of the 2017 Route 91 Harvest music festival massacre in Las Vegas.
The UNLV shooting adds to the statistics of mass shootings in the United States. With more than 630 mass shootings reported this year alone, the incident underlines the urgent need for gun reform.
President Joe Biden, in a statement, told that the horrific act of gun violence and called for collective efforts to prevent such incidents in the future.
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The UNLV shooting questions about campus security and preparedness for such incidents. The RUN-HIDE-FIGHT protocol, commonly employed in active shooter situations, was activated, addressing the need for individuals to take immediate action to protect themselves.
The effectiveness of these protocols and the overall preparedness of educational institutions to handle such crises will likely be in the coming days.
Advocates for stricter gun laws argue that such incidents could be mitigated with reform, including background checks and limitations on access to firearms.
On the other hand, proponents of Second Amendment rights stress the importance of responsible gun ownership and argue against infringing on constitutional liberties.
Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF, are collaborating to investigate the UNLV shooting thoroughly.
The motive behind the attack remains a main point of the investigation, and authorities are piecing together the events leading up to the incident. The suspect’s connections to other states and his troubled employment history.
UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield described the incident as unfathomable in a message to the university community.
All classes, academic activities, and performing arts events have been canceled through Sunday, with a reassessment planned to determine the resumption of activities next week.
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