LAS VEGAS - The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) mourns the loss of three faculty members who were tragically killed in a shooting on Wednesday. The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner has identified the victims as Dr. Naoko Takemaru, 69, Dr. Cha Jan "Jerry" Chang, 64, and Dr. Patricia Navarro Velez, 39.

Dr. Naoko Takemaru, an Associate Professor of Japanese Studies, was one of the victims. Known for teaching all levels of Japanese language, grammar, culture, and translation, Takemaru was highly respected at UNLV. In recognition of her teaching excellence, she received the William Morris Award for Excellence in Teaching from the College of Liberal Arts.

Dr. Cha Jan "Jerry" Chang, an associate professor in the Management, Entrepreneurship & Technology department, was also killed. Chang had an extensive educational background, holding degrees from Taiwan, Central Michigan University, and Texas A&M University. With over two decades of experience teaching business students at UNLV, his impact on the university community was immeasurable.

The third victim, Dr. Patricia Navarro Velez, was an accounting professor and held a Ph.D. in accounting. She focused on research in cybersecurity disclosures and data analytics. Navarro joined UNLV five years ago and was known for her expertise in teaching accounting information systems.

The shooting sent shockwaves through the university community, and UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield expressed his condolences in a letter to students and staff. He described the incident as the most difficult day in the university's history and expressed deep sorrow for the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims.

In addition to the three fatalities, a fourth victim, a UNLV faculty member, was critically injured and taken to Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center. Thankfully, their condition has since been upgraded from critical to stable.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Anthony Polito, who engaged in a firefight with responding officers and was subsequently killed. According to sources, Polito had applied for a college professorship at UNLV but was not hired.

The UNLV campus community is now grappling with the aftermath of this senseless act of violence. Counseling and support services have been made available to students and staff, as they begin the healing process.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, with law enforcement agencies working tirelessly to determine the motive behind the attack. As the UNLV community mourns the loss of three valued educators, they remain united in their resilience and determination to move forward.

This devastating event serves as a stark reminder of the need for increased security measures and support for mental health services on college campuses nationwide. The UNLV shooting will undoubtedly prompt a broader conversation about campus safety and the steps that can be taken to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families of Dr. Naoko Takemaru, Dr. Cha Jan "Jerry" Chang, and Dr. Patricia Navarro Velez, as well as the entire UNLV community during this difficult time.

[Date: December 6, 2023]