‘Incredibly dedicated to her students’: Third victim of UNLV shooting named

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The third victim killed in Wednesday’s shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has been named.

Dr Naoko Takemaru, an associate professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures, was identified after her next of kin were informed by the coroner’s office, UNLV president Keith Whitfield said in a statement.

“With sadness, I write to you to mourn the tragic passing of Dr Naoko Takemaru, who this morning was confirmed to be among the three UNLV faculty members who lost their lives during Wednesday’s shooting,” Mr Whitfield said on Friday.

“Earlier today, the coroner’s office shared Dr Takemaru’s name following the notification of her next of kin.”

Dr Takemaru was a noted scholar, author and award-winning educator, who just recently marked her 20th year as a member of UNLV’s faculty.

She coordinated Japanese language programs and taught numerous courses on Japanese culture, business and language. Mr Whitfield described her as “incredibly dedicated to her students”, having earned the premier teaching award from the College of Liberal Arts.

Police previously confirmed the identity of the two other faculty members who had died in the shooting. They were professor Cha Jan Chang, 64, known as “Jerry,” and assistant professor Patricia Navarro Velez, 39.

In his statement on Dr Takemaru’s death, Mr 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, who also perished as a result of Wednesday’s tragedy.”

Another UNLV faculty member — a 38-year-old visiting professor — remained hospitalised on Friday.

“Processing the loss of three cherished UNLV faculty members is horrendously difficult, but we are heartened by memories of them and their remarkable and lasting impact on our university, on their students, and within their professions,” Mr Whitfield said.

It comes following the announcement that winter graduation ceremonies at UNLV will be taking place as scheduled, though on-campus final exams will not,

Mr Whitfield, said that students and parents had expressed “a desire to come together” in the wake of the tragedy. All campuses in southern Nevada were closed out of “an abundance of caution” following the incident. It was not made clear when operations would resume.

Having spoken to students, Mr Whitfield said, “one common thread that emerged was a desire to come together.”

“The milestone moment of commencement is the most special day on the university calendar, and it’s in difficult times like these that we can and should celebrate our graduates’ academic dreams fulfilled,” he said.

“We know that the trauma of this week’s tragedy impacts each one of us in different ways. For those eligible to participate in this winter’s commencement who choose not to attend at this time, you will have the option to walk and participate fully during the May 2024 commencement ceremonies.

“We believe these decisions regarding finals and commencement provide flexibility for both students and faculty, and offer the best path forward for our university.”

The statement added that exams scheduled to take place next week on the UNLV campus, were being cancelled.

Students will now end the semester with the grade they have earned based on work completed before December 6, though some faculty may opt to offer an optional online final exam or take-home project before December 18, allowing students an opportunity to improve their grade.

“We are providing flexibility for faculty and instructors – as well as students – to bring this semester to a positive end,” a statement from Mr Whitfield read.

Mr Whitfield also thanked the students, faculty and staff. “Your resilience amidst near insurmountable adversity continues to amaze me,” he said.

“In the short time since Wednesday’s incident, I’ve met with some of you to listen and to learn, and I acknowledge the pain, fear, and anxiety that many are experiencing right now. I feel it too,” he said.

Police have named 67-year-old Anthony Polito, a career college professor who had applied for – but failed to be accepted for – a job at UNLV, as the suspect in the shootings.

On Friday Las Vegas police released new video purportedly showing Polito moments after his shooting rampage campus. The footage emerged after investigators revealed that he had a “target list” - but none of his alleged victims were on it.