The third fatal victim of a gunman who shot-up the University of Las Vegas campus Wednesday has been identified as Japanese studies professor Naoko Takemaru, 69, reports the Las Vegas Review Journal.
The coroner’s office says the chair of that department died of multiple gunshot wounds.
“She was incredibly dedicated to her students,” UNLV President Keith Whitfield said. “We grieve for her family, friends, students, and colleagues. We honor her memory, alongside those of Lee Business School professors Dr. Patricia Navarro-Velez and Dr. Jerry Chang.”
A fourth victim remains hospitalized in stable condition.
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KVUU reports Takemaru won the William Morris Award for Excellence in Teaching at UNLV from the College of Liberal Arts. In addition to leading her department, she also taught upper division Japanese classes.
The shooting has grabbed the attention of college campuses that fill vulnerable to further violence.
“We mourn the most recent senseless, tragic violence & murder on a college campus,” wrote Irene Mulvey, president of the American Association of University Professors on X. “We call upon our elected leaders to move forward with actions that we know can begin to solve our American gun violence epidemic.”
USA Today reports that President Joe Biden appeared in Las Vegas at an event scheduled prior to the shooting and offered prayers for the families while praising law enforcement for its quick response.
“This is not normal, and we can never let it become normal,” he said. “People have the right to feel safe, be safe.”
He called on Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
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