UNLV Mass Shooter: Connection to School Unknown, Sources Identify Him as Career College Professor
The 67-year-old gunman responsible for the UNLV mass shooting is a college professor with ties to schools in Georgia and North Carolina While his connection to the university remains unclear, the incident occurred near the site of the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history (320 characters)
A 67-year-old college professor was responsible for the mass shooting on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus on Wednesday, leaving three dead and a fourth critically injured. The shooter had connections to schools in Georgia and North Carolina, but it is unclear what connection he had with the university where the shooting occurred. Las Vegas Metro Sheriff Kevin McMahill stated at a news conference on Wednesday evening that the identity of the deceased shooter will be withheld until his family has been notified.
McMahill stated that campus police officers engaged the shooter outside Beam Hall. The sheriff mentioned that there was a gathering outside the hall with students playing games and building with Legos. He described the event as a heinous and unforgivable crime, emphasizing the heroic actions of the police officers that prevented further loss of life.
Four individuals were shot, and an additional four people were hospitalized for symptoms of panic attacks, as stated by the sheriff. During the search for victims, two law enforcement officers were also injured. According to spokesperson Marissa Mussi, three of the patients were taken to Sunrise Hospital.
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Student Amanda Perez, 23, is comforted by her fiancé, Alejandro Barron, 24, on campus.
Ronda Churchill/AFP/Getty Images
Earlier on Wednesday, the police were called to respond to a shooting incident with several victims near Beam Hall, which houses the Lee Business School of the university, as mentioned in a social media post. At 11:54 a.m. local time, the university issued an emergency alert online, instructing everyone to evacuate to a safe area and to follow the protocol of "RUN-HIDE-FIGHT" in response to the reported shots fired in BEH.
The university soon announced that police were also responding to another report of shots fired in the Student Union, urging people to evacuate the area.
"I was sitting outside, having breakfast, when I heard three loud booms. I was like, oh, what was that?" a student told CNN affiliate KVVU. "Police showed up, and then I ran inside.
"After two minutes, I heard more shots. I quickly ran into the basement and stayed there for 20 minutes," the student recounted. "I could hear a lot of shots."
This recent event has occurred during a study week for students before their final exams and winter break, in the same city that experienced the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history in 2017.
Police are working to uncover evidence and identify a motive, the sheriff said.
Shooting took place near scene of deadliest mass shooting in modern US history
UNLV is situated only a few miles away from the location of the tragic mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival, which resulted in the deaths of at least 58 people and injuries to hundreds more. In the aftermath of the massacre, two additional victims succumbed to their shooting-related injuries.
According to a student who spoke with CNN affiliate KSNV, he was in class in a neighboring building to the student union and witnessed law enforcement officers entering the area.
"We were extremely anxious, so we barricaded ourselves in," he informed the Las Vegas station. He mentioned that he and the other students took a moment to peer out the windows.
"We witnessed students fleeing in single file, their hands raised in fear, and we observed law enforcement entering," the student, who stated that he was in a journalism class with around a dozen others, added.
He stated that they had not heard any gunfire or seen anyone who could have been the perpetrator.
"Terrible and heart-wrenching updates coming from @unlv. Sending prayers for everyone on campus while law enforcement handles the situation," shared Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn G. Goodman on X.
The White House is closely monitoring the reported shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Additionally, the second gentleman was already scheduled to deliver remarks tonight at the Newtown Action Alliance Foundations 11th Annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence, the White House stated.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
CNNs Steve Almasy, Brammhi Balarajan and Amanda Jackson contributed to this report.
