Tragedy Strikes UNLV: A Community in Shock and Grief

In a heart-wrenching incident that unfolded on the UNLV campus, students and their families were plunged into fear and despair when a gunman opened fire, leaving at least three people dead. The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, bringing back painful memories of a similar tragedy that occurred six years ago in Las Vegas.

A distraught mother, in an interview with a local TV news reporter, shared the harrowing experience her daughter faced during the shooting. The young student was described as "hysterical" when she called, recounting the terrifying sounds of gunshots and screams that echoed through the campus. The mother's account offers a glimpse into the sheer panic and chaos that unfolded during the attack.

Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation confirmed the grim toll, stating that at least three individuals lost their lives in the shooting. However, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill emphasized that these numbers could change as the investigation progresses, and the extent of injuries remained unknown. McMahill did provide a glimmer of relief, assuring the public that there was no longer a threat to the community and that the suspect responsible for the tragedy was deceased.

The somber incident comes exactly six years after the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history occurred in Las Vegas during a country music festival in October 2017. The memory of that horrifying event, where 58 lives were lost and hundreds more were wounded, has cast a long shadow over the city. The recent shooting at UNLV serves as a painful reminder of the persistent threat of gun violence that communities continue to face across the nation.

As news of the incident spread, relatives and friends of UNLV students gathered anxiously across the street from the campus, desperate for any information about their loved ones. Jayden Rol, 26, shared the relief of knowing his sister Nicole was safe, though hiding in a closet on campus, awaiting the arrival of law enforcement. Jayden expressed a sentiment echoed by many, saying, "You hear about shootings all the time, and none of it makes sense." It's a sentiment that resonates with the collective disbelief and frustration felt by communities grappling with the recurring nightmare of gun violence.

Jesus Medina, 28, anxiously waited for news about his wife, Stephanie, who works in an administrative role in the English department. Stephanie received an active shooter alert and sought refuge inside her building. Jesus, racing to campus to pick her up, shared the agonizing plea that resonates with the universal fear felt by those waiting for their loved ones in such situations: "Lord, please don't let anything happen to my wife." His words capture the raw and vulnerable emotions that surface in the face of such senseless violence.

Deon J. Hampton reported from Las Vegas, Sarah Guevara from Washington, and Daniel Arkin from New York, providing on-the-ground perspectives that reflect the community's shock and grief. Their reporting underscores the urgency of addressing the complex issue of gun violence and its profound impact on individuals, families, and entire communities.

As the nation grapples with the aftermath of yet another tragic shooting, the call for meaningful action to prevent such incidents from repeating grows louder. The UNLV community, like countless others before it, is left to mourn, reflect, and grapple with the incomprehensible reality that gun violence has once again shattered lives and left a lasting scar on their collective psyche. It is a stark reminder that, in the face of tragedy, communities must come together to support one another and demand solutions to prevent further loss of innocent lives.