UNLV students 'played games and ate food' before shooter killed three on campus

07 December 2023 , 02:10

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A University of Nevada, Las Vegas, student talks on his cellphone after a shooting reported on campus (Image: AP)

Students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, were sat playing games and eating food moments before a mass shooting killed three people on campus.

An active shooter was reported at the campus on Wednesday afternoon, with multiple shots fired and a number of injured victims. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) later confirmed three deceased victims and one who remains in a critical but stable condition at Sunrise Hospital.

The gunman, who was killed in a shootout with police, opened fire on Wednesday afternoon, causing panic and chaos. Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed that students had been gathering outside for fun and relaxation during their finals week.

READ MORE: UNLV shooting: Three victims confirmed dead in shooting as one remains critical

He said: "Importantly, there was a gathering outside where students were playing games and eating food. There was a table set up for them to build lego. If it hadn't been for the heroic actions of one of these officers there could have been countless additional lives taken."

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The UNLV campus is just two miles from the famous Las Vegas strip (GoogleMaps)

The shooting originated on the fourth floor of Beam Hall, a building on campus, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said. It went to "multiple floors," McMahill said, before the suspect was "neutralized" outside of the building. McMahill condemned the shooter, saying students "should not feel fear on campus while pursuing their dreams."

The shooter's motivation remains unclear, the department posted on X, adding: "There is NO further threat. No idea about motive. A number of victims have been transported to area hospitals. Those details will be available soon. The investigation is active and continuing."

Tonight, President Joe Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden issued a statement following the shooting, saying they were praying for the families of the victims.

Law enforcement officers head into the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, campus after reports of an active shooter on Wednesday (AP)

Biden said in a statement that UNLV “became the latest college campus to be terrorized by a horrific act of gun violence, and the community is still awaiting information on casualties". He added: "Jill and I join citizens across our nation in praying for the families of our fallen, and for those who were injured during these latest acts of senseless violence. We are also grateful for the courageous work of law enforcement — who risked their own safety to bring an end to these deadly shooting sprees."

In an X post earlier on Wednesday, the university wrote: "University Police responding to report of shots fire in BEH evacuate to a safe area, RUN-HIDE-FIGHT." The second update, posted minutes later, reads: "University Police responding to confirmed active shooter in BEH. This is not a test."

The shooter has been named as one of the deceased, however police said no ID would be given ahead of next of kin work being completed (AP)

By around 12:30 p.m., the suspect had been found deceased by Vegas police, who wrote in two separate updates: "The suspect is contained. This is an active investigation. Please continue to avoid the area and watch for responding emergency units." They later added: "The suspect has been located and is deceased."

A hotline was set up for anyone impacted by the shooter at the UNLV campus. For reunification information or services for victims, including those impacted mentally by the trauma of witnessing the shooting, people can call 702-455-2433, the police wrote on X.

Abigail O'Leary