UNLV shooting suspect, who killed 3, identified, leaving Las Vegas shocked

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) shooter, who Wednesday gunned down three people on the campus, before killing himself, has finally been named and his identity came as a shock for the community.  

The perpetrator, described as a white former college professor in his 60s, engaged in a fatal shootout with the police, before ending his own life.

One wounded victim of the UNLV shooting is in stable condition, while the campus, located just two miles from the iconic Las Vegas Strip, will remain closed for Thursday and Friday.

Law enforcement sources revealed the shooter's past involvement in teaching in Georgia and North Carolina. Despite applying for a job at the university, his motives remain unknown, and details about the weapon used are yet to be disclosed.

The university's response to the shooting was swift, with police engaging the suspect in a shootout, resulting in his demise. The campus issued urgent alerts, instructing students to "RUN-HIDE-FIGHT," a standard active shooter protocol in the US. The chaotic scene prompted panic attacks, hospitalising four individuals, while two police officers received treatment for minor injuries.

The aftermath saw buildings evacuated one by one, and a temporary ground stop at the nearby Harry Reid International Airport. President Joe Biden expressed condolences, denouncing the act of gun violence as the "latest college campus terrorised." Plans for the president's upcoming visit to Las Vegas are uncertain, pending further developments.

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo shared messages of sorrow and solidarity with those affected. The FBI and ATF joined local police in the investigation, while a family reunification centre was established for those seeking support.

As the community grapples with this tragedy, students were allowed back into their campus housing late in the night, accompanied by a "strong police presence," according to university updates. The incident adds to the sombre statistics of mass shootings in the US, prompting renewed discussions on gun violence prevention.