Three people were killed and several others injured in a mass shooting at a university campus in Las Vegas on Wednesday, police said.
The shooting occurred around 4 p.m. at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), where students and faculty were preparing for final exams. The gunman, who was later identified as a 22-year-old student, opened fire in a classroom building before fleeing to a nearby parking lot, where he was confronted by police and shot himself, according to authorities.
#BREAKING: According to our investigators at the scene, we have three deceased victims and one additional victim in critical condition at a local hospital.
— LVMPD (@LVMPD) December 6, 2023
The suspect in this #ActiveShooter incident is also deceased.
We will update as soon as we can with accurate information. https://t.co/h56jaYcFwg
The motive for the shooting is still under investigation, but police said they found a note in the gunman’s backpack that indicated he was “angry and frustrated” with his academic performance and personal life. The note also expressed hatred for the university and society in general, police said.
The victims were two students and a professor, who were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names have not been released pending notification of their families. Several other people were wounded and taken to local hospitals, where their conditions ranged from stable to critical, according to officials.
UNLV President Keith Whitfield issued a statement expressing his “deep sorrow and grief” over the tragedy and offering his condolences to the victims’ families and friends. He also praised the “swift and courageous” response of the campus police and other law enforcement agencies, who secured the scene and evacuated the students and staff.
“This is a dark and tragic day for our university and our community,” Whitfield said. “We are heartbroken and outraged by this senseless act of violence that has shattered so many lives. We will do everything we can to support the survivors and help them heal from this horrific ordeal.”
Whitfield said the university will provide counseling and other resources to the students and employees affected by the shooting. He also announced that all classes and activities will be canceled for the rest of the week and that a vigil will be held on Thursday night to honor the victims and show solidarity.
The shooting was the latest in a series of mass shootings that have plagued the United States in recent years, sparking debates over gun control, mental health, and campus safety. According to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit organization that tracks gun-related incidents, there have been 615 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2023, resulting in 732 deaths and 2,467 injuries. A mass shooting is defined as an incident in which four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.
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