Tragedy Strikes University of Las Vegas: Faculty Members Killed in Campus Shooting
In a harrowing incident at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), three faculty members lost their lives in a campus shooting. Two of the victims have been identified as Patricia Navarro-Velez, 39, and Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, 64, both professors in the business school. Navarro-Velez succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, while Chang died from a gunshot wound to the head. The identity of the third faculty member, who also passed away, has not been released pending family notification. Additionally, a fourth faculty member was injured and is currently in stable condition at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center.
The suspect, identified as 67-year-old Anthony Polito, a former professor at East Carolina University, was reportedly seeking employment at UNLV. He was killed in a shootout with UNLV Police. The tragic event has left the university community in deep mourning, with UNLV President Keith Whitfield acknowledging the difficulty of the situation and the need for community support.
The shooting, which began on the fourth floor of the Lee Business School, prompted a campus-wide alert. The quick response by law enforcement is credited with preventing further tragedy. However, the incident has raised concerns about campus safety and the impact of gun violence in educational settings.
This incident is particularly poignant in light of Las Vegas’ history with gun violence, including the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history that occurred just a few miles from the UNLV campus in 2017. The community’s response reflects both preparedness and resilience in the face of such tragedy, as well as the ongoing need to address gun violence in the United States.
