Photo: Memorial at Campus of UNLV-University of Nevada, Las Vegas, site of recent mass shooting. Photo from KLAS-TV.
News from Las Vegas/Nevada
On December 6, 2023, a shooting occurred at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The shooter, Tony Polito, arrived at the UNLV campus at around 11:30 am, armed with a 9mm handgun. At 11:45 am, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department received a call about a shooter in the Frank and Estella Beam Hall. The shooter reportedly started on the fourth floor of the hall and made his way down several other floors. Eight minutes later, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas posted an X message that police were responding to reports of gunshots, warning students at the Beam Hall to “evacuate to a safe area.” Approximately twenty minutes later, the university reported additional gunshots at the Student Union building. At around 11:55 am, Polito exited the building and was killed in a shootout with police.
Three professors fell victim to this tragedy, Jerry Cha-Jan Chang, 64, a professor of business at the university, Patricia Navarro-Velez, 39, an assistant professor of accounting, and Naoko Takemaru, 69, an associate professor of Japanese studies. In addition to the three people killed, one person was taken to an area hospital with a gunshot wound. The person was in stable condition. Four other people were hospitalized after suffering panic attacks and two officers were injured.
An outdoor vigil was held to honor the three faculty members who lost their lives at the UNLV campus on Wednesday, December 13. Also on Monday, December 11,Clark County officials gathered for the annual tree-lighting near the downtown Las Vegas area. However, the tone was different than in previous years. A holiday tradition turned into a night of healing for the Las Vegas community, days after a mass shooting on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus.
Tammi Tiger (citizen of the Choctaw Nation), director of Tribal Education Initiative, stated on her social media account, that the shots were next door to where she was that day. Kyle Ethelbah (White Mountain Apache) MPH, director of College Programs, was also on the UNLV campus when this senseless tragedy took place .Dr. Sondra Cosgrove, a history professor at the College of Southern Nevada, said, “The best way to support young people suffering from the trauma of gun violence is to deeply listen to them. Let them tell us what they need right now, and then provide that support.” This incident has taken a toll on students and faculty that no one can understand unless you were there. Let’s continue to come together as a community and support those affected by this act of terror.
Up to 95% of survivors of mass shootings experience PTSD in the aftermath, but supportive services and mental health resources can help improve outcomes for survivors, and resources are available in Las Vegas for those who need them in the wake of the shooting at UNLV Dec. 6.
Resources For services
To access CAPS services, call (702) 895-3627 or email caps@unlv.edu.
VSRC, at 2915 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 100, offers services from 7:30 a.m. to 5p.m. Monday through Friday. People in need of help can call (702) 455-AIDE(2433) or 1 (833) 299-2433 for callers outside Nevada or visit the organization’s website at www.vegasstrongrc.org.
The NAMI Nevada Warmline can be reached at 1-775-241-4212.
For Fuente de Vida Mental Health Services call (725) 204-8809.
The Crisis Support Services Hotline is 988
https://unlvstrong.unlv.edu/
