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THE third victim of Wednesday’s deadly shooting at the University of Nevada has been named.
Naoko Takemaru, 69, was an associate professor of Japanese Studies at UNLV, according to authorities.
Dr. Takemaru had been awarded William Morris Award for Excellence in Teaching from the College of Liberal Arts at UNLV.
It comes after the coroner’s office named two more individuals who tragically lost their lives.
Cha Jan Chang, a 64-year-old professor known as “Jerry,” and 39-year-old associate professor Patricia Navarro Velez were both shot down during the campus rampage.
Authorities confirmed that all three victims died of multiple gunshot wounds.
The fourth victim is said to be in a “stable condition at Sunrise Hospital, according to Las Vegas police.
SHOOTER IDENTIFIED
Police have said the shooting suspect was semi-retired 67-year-old professor Anthony Polito.
Polito, 67, was killed by officers following reports of shots fired on the campus.
Investigators said they believe that Polito was recently denied a job at UNLV.
On Wednesday morning, the suspect started shooting on the fourth floor of Beam Hall before continuing on multiple floors.
The suspect then exited Beam Hall and was immediately met by a UNLV police officer.
During a shootout, the school officer struck the suspect and killed him.
At the time of the shooting, the university sent a text out to all students once the shooter on campus was confirmed and informed everyone: “This is not a drill. Run, Hide, Fight.”
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Police did not immediately identify a motive for the attack, but have obtained his phone and have searched a residence believed to be his home in Henderson, Nevada.
In a press conference on Thursday evening, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said detectives discovered that Polito had went to the post office to send over 22 letters to universities around the United States, per local NBC affiliate KSNV.
CITY’S PAIN
UNLV Boyd law student Josh Lozano exclusively told The U.S. Sun he was taking a final when the gunman stormed into campus and opened fire.
Lozano, who is studying to become a lawyer, was an undergrad student at the college when 60 people were killed and nearly 500 others injured at a Route 91 concert by the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino six years ago.
“It felt as if everyone knew someone directly affected by it,” Lozano said.
“It was traumatic for the community, but we rallied together from it.”
On the day of the UNLV shooting, he said he could feel a similar concern yet a sense of resignation among those on campus.
“Today, it seemed as though there was a genuine concern among people for each other and the safety of our UNLV community,” he said.
“At the same time, there was a sense of resignation, an acceptance of the situation as it is.
“This is just my experience, and I know it may be vastly different for others.”
Lozano said he could hear the gunshots while taking the test.
The law student had to be picked up about a mile away from campus.
