In a shocking incident on Wednesday morning, three individuals lost their lives in a shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus. Law enforcement officers engaged and killed the unidentified suspect in a shootout, while one victim remains critically injured at a local hospital, according to a police statement.
Sources within law enforcement, speaking to CBS, identified the assailant as a white former college professor in his sixties, who had previously taught in Georgia and North Carolina. UNLV, along with other institutions in the southern Nevada System of Higher Education, announced the closure of campuses for the rest of Wednesday.
The university first alerted the public at approximately 11:53 local time (19:53 GMT) about reports of gunfire on campus. Within 20 minutes, a subsequent statement indicated shots near the Student Union building, urging students at Beam Hall to evacuate and follow the “RUN-HIDE-FIGHT” protocol commonly used during active shooter situations in the US.
During a press conference, Adam Garcia, the university police chief, disclosed that two campus officers engaged the suspect in a shootout, resulting in the suspect’s death. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill stated that the motive behind the incident remains unknown.
In the aftermath, one victim is in stable condition at a local hospital, and four others were treated for panic attacks. Two police officers received treatment for minor injuries. A student on campus described the tense atmosphere, emphasizing the uncertainty and fear among those present.
In response to the incident, a ground stop was implemented at Harry Reid International Airport, with authorities citing security reasons. President Joe Biden expressed condolences, labeling the incident as another instance of gun violence terrorizing a college campus.
Mayor Carolyn Goodman of Las Vegas called the news “tragic and heart-breaking,” extending prayers to everyone affected. The university, in collaboration with local and federal agencies, is conducting a thorough investigation. UNLV will remain closed on Thursday and Friday, with a family reunification center established at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Source – BBC
