In the second week of December a deadly shooting occurred on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus leaving three fatalities and hundreds of students and staff fleeing for nearby locations hoping to seek shelter with a mass message from the university stating, “RUN-HIDE-FIGHT.” Simultaneously, Spring Valley families and students were in a state of instant shock and panic as many found out about the shooting during their last period of the day.
“I found out after my teacher told us we could get our backpacks after a test,” said Spring Valley Senior Jzebelh Pin Torres. “I was really worried and scared because I knew a couple of my friends had class during that time.”
On Wednesday at noon, nearby police were notified of a possible shooting occuring in front of Beam Hall, home of the university’s business school and near the student union where roughly 200 students were hanging out between classes. In addition to the three lives taken, one other was in critical condition, but is now stable. Many students were not able to leave campus until hours later when police cleared every building.
“My sister attends UNLV and she had sent me the text that all the students received during the shooting.” said Senior Richard Echavez. “She was in the university’s library, but wasn’t released until hours later than her usual time.”
Spring Valley high school is only about a 25 minute drive from the local university, where many students from the 2022-2023 senior class now attend. Many current students and families have a mixture of feelings in the aftermath of the shooting.
“I was concerned for her [his sister, a former SV student], but I feel like I wasn’t as shocked as I would have thought,” said Echavez. “I feel like we [students] are so desensitized to school shootings now because they happen so often and it needs to change.”
A day later on Thursday, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill identified the gunman as a former career professor that was rejected from a position at the university. It has been reported that he kept a “target list” of faculty at UNLV and hundreds of pieces of ammunition in his Henderson apartment.
“I can’t believe the extent someone would go to hurt others,” said Senior Brianna Torrez. “I know so many people who go to UNLV and my brother as well, it’s such a devastating thing to have in your own city, your own home.”
UNLV’s shooting is one among over 600 mass shootings that have occurred this year, including multiple other university shootings as well. This recent shooting occurred only six years later from the mass shooting that occurred on Las Vegas music festival grounds that left over 50 deceased and hundreds more injured, making it the worst mass shooting to occur in US history.
“The fact that the shooting was in close proximity just really emphasizes that this could happen anywhere,” said Pin Torres. “Everywhere we just need better security, more regulations on gun safety, and management of gun safety laws.”
The three victims’ identities have been revealed by the Clark County Office of Coroner as: 64-year-old Jerry Cha-Jan Change, a beloved and long-term business professor at Lees Business school, 39-year-old Patricia Navarro-Velez, a hardworking assistant professor, and 69-year-old Naoko Takemaru, a kind hearted Japanese studies professor.
“It’s going to be a while before we get to whatever we can consider normal,” said University President Keith Whitfield on Friday. “But you know something, that’s OK.”
There are resources available for students and families all throughout the Las Vegas valley including temporary housing and support groups. At Spring Valley, students and families are welcomed to utilize support tools on the school’s website and in-person with staff and counselors. Remember to stay safe and stay together during these difficult times, grizzlies!
