On Wednesday morning, a tragic shooting occurred at the University of Nevada (UNLV) campus in Las Vegas, resulting in the loss of three lives. The suspect, who remains unidentified, was engaged by officers and ultimately killed in a shootout. One victim remains in critical condition at a local hospital, while another is in stable condition. As a precautionary measure, UNLV and other educational institutions within the southern Nevada System of Higher Education will be closed for the remainder of the day. The university initially alerted the public to the incident through a tweet, stating that law enforcement was responding to reports of gunfire on campus. Subsequently, campus police received another report of shots fired near the Student Union building, prompting them to advise students at Beam Hall to evacuate to a safe area and follow the “RUN-HIDE-FIGHT” protocol commonly used during active shooter situations in the United States. Adam Garcia, the university police chief, revealed that two campus officers engaged the suspect in a shootout, resulting in the suspect’s demise. During a press conference, Kevin McMahill, the sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, stated that the motive behind the shooting remains unknown. In addition to the victims, four individuals were hospitalized for panic attacks, and two police officers received treatment for minor injuries. A witness on campus described the fear and uncertainty experienced during the incident, emphasizing the urgency to reach out to loved ones. As a precautionary measure, a ground stop was implemented at the nearby Harry Reid International Airport, and road closures were enforced due to ongoing police activity. President Joe Biden expressed his condolences in a statement regarding the tragic event.
