Suspected shooter also dead, Las Vegas police say
1 of 2 | At least three people were killed and one person is in critical condition in a shooting Wednesday at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, according to police, who say the suspected shooter is dead. Photo courtesy of UNLV
At least three people are dead and one person is in critical condition after a shooting Wednesday at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, according to police who said the suspected shooter also is dead.
“According to our investigators at the scene, we have three deceased victims and one additional victim in critical condition at a local hospital,” the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department wrote in an updated post Wednesday afternoon. “The suspect in this active shooter incident is also deceased.” Advertisement
LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed Wednesday afternoon that there were “at least three victims” and that that number could change.
The shooting was first reported Wednesday in a UNLV alert to students and staff, warning of shots fired near Beam Hall, which is home to the university’s Lee Business School.
“University Police responding to a report of shots fired in BEH evacuate to a safe area, RUN-HIDE-FIGHT,” UNLV wrote in its initial post, just before noon. Advertisement
Police then reported additional shots fired in the Student Union, which is across the street from the business school.
“We are responding to preliminary reports of an active shooter on the campus of UNLV near Beam Hall,” Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department wrote in a post shortly after noon on X, formerly Twitter. “There appears to be multiple victims at this time. Please avoid the area and we will have
#BREAKING We are responding to preliminary reports of an #ActiveShooter on the campus of UNLV near BEAM Hall. There appears to be multiple victims at this time. Please avoid the area and we will have
Less than an hour later, police provided an update, saying the suspect was dead.
“The suspect has been located and is deceased,” police said, adding that they are evacuating the buildings one at a time.
One student described what she heard before being evacuated, saying there were “about 200 kids all in one space” and that “a lot of people were panicking.”
“They had guns, we all walked out of the building hands up,” the student who did not give her name told KVVU. “They evacuated us out of the student union. We walked past one of the windows, the window was shot through, glass everywhere.” Advertisement
UNLV urged students, staff and visitors to continue to shelter-in-place in each building until police arrived.
The school also announced that all “UNLV and NSHE institutions statewide are closed for the remainder of the day.”
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo issued a statement, saying that he continues to monitor the situation as investigators work to determine a motive.
“My office is in constant communication with LVMPD, UNLV and all emergency response partners,” Lombardo wrote, as he reposted instructions from the university.
“Please continue to shelter in place as police are evacuating the buildings one at a time. This remains an active investigation.”
President Joe Biden also made a statement on the shooting Wednesday evening, as he called for more action to address “the epidemic of gun violence we face.”
“Just hours ago, the University of Nevada at Las Vegas became the latest college campus to be terrorized by a horrific act of gun violence,” Biden said.
“For all the action we have taken since I’ve been president, the epidemic of gun violence we face demands that we do even more. But we cannot do more without Congress,” Biden said as he urged lawmakers to pass an assault weapons ban and universal background checks. Advertisement
University of Nevada President Brian Sandoval urged students and staff Wednesday night to prioritize their well-being and take advantage of campus resources.
“We send our deepest sympathies, and our thoughts are with the families of the multiple victims of this terrible tragedy. Today and in the days to come we are all Rebels.”
