Las Vegas police respond to active shooting at UNLV campus: Live updates

Students at a college in Las Vegas have been told to “run, hide, fight” following reports of an active shooter on the campus.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department are responding to the incident, with reports of multiple victims on the UNLV campus near to BEAM Hall.

In a post on X, the school said University Police are “responding to a confirmed active shooter situation in BEH. This is not a test.”

“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,” LVMPD wrote in a separate social media post.

“Please avoid the area and we will have more information soon.”

Key Points

• ‘Active shooting’ with multiple victims reported on Las Vegas college campus

Watch: Police report multiple casualties and suspect dead in Las Vegas: ‘There is no further threat’

05:00 , Mike Bedigan

‘We were in utter shock’: Witnesses share account of mass shooting

04:45 , Namita Singh

Professor Kevaney Martin took cover under a desk in her classroom, where another faculty member and three students took shelter with her.“It was terrifying.

I can’t even begin to explain,” Ms Martin said.

“I was trying to hold it together for my students, and trying not to cry, but the emotions are something I never want to experience again.”

Ms Martin said she was texting friends and loved ones, hoping to receive word a suspect had been detained. When another professor came to the room and told everyone to evacuate, they joined dozens of others rushing out of the building. Ms Martin had her students pile into her car and drove them off campus.

“Once we got away from UNLV, we parked and sat in silence,” she said. “Nobody said a word. We were in utter shock.”

Official account of mass shooting unclear

04:30 , Namita Singh

Official details of the shooting remain sketchy.

According to Sheriff Kevin McMahill of LVMPD, the shooting began on the fourth floor of Beam Hall, a building that houses the university’s business school. It then moved to other floors before finally ending outside where the suspect was “neutralised.”

However, UNLV police chief Adam Garcia told reporters that after receiving a call reporting gunfire on campus at about 11.45am (7.45pm GMT), law enforcement “immediately engaged the suspect in a shootout”. He said the suspect was fatally shot by campus police.

Vincent Perez, a professor at the school, told MSNBC by phone that he had heard a lot of gunfire before taking cover on campus.

“I would say just seven, eight shots, one after another, loud and very loud,” he said. “As soon as we heard that, we ran back inside and we realised this is a real shooting, and there’s an active shooter on campus.”

Las Vegas shooting suspect was 'a professor who recently applied for a job at UNLV’

04:15 , Namita Singh

The man suspected of fatally shooting three people and wounding another at a Las Vegas university on Wednesday was a professor who unsuccessfully sought a job at the school, a law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the investigation told The Associated Press.

The gunman was killed in a shootout with law enforcement, police said.

The attack at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas sent shock waves through a city still scarred by the deaths of 60 people in a 2017 mass shooting.

The suspect previously worked at East Carolina University in North Carolina, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorised to release the information publicly.

Police didn’t immediately identify the gunman, the victims or a possible motive.

LNVL campus shooting marks 80th school shooting of 2023

04:00 , Mike Bedigan

According to analysis by CNN, Wednesday’s shooting – in which three people have been confirmed dead – marks the 80th US school shooting this year.

Of those, 51 shootings have been reported on K-12 campuses and 29 on university and college campuses, according to the outlet.

This figure includes the latest shooting in Las Vegas on the UNLV campus.

One person critically injured, several suffer panic attacks

03:45 , Namita Singh

A lone shooter opened fire on the main campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on Wednesday, killing three people and wounding a fourth before the suspect was shot dead by police, authorities said.

The surviving gunshot victim was listed in stable condition, according to Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

He said several other people suffered panic attacks during the pandemonium, and a number of officers were treated for minor injuries sustained during a search of the sprawling campus for any additional victims or suspects. None were found.

Suspected gunman a 67-year-old professor — reports

03:19 , Namita Singh

The gunman in the mass shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is a 67-year-old career college professor, reported CNN citing law enforcement sources.

Identified as a male, he had connections to colleges in Georgia and North Carolina, the report said, adding his affiliation with the school where the shooting took place is unknown.

Watch: Police respond to shooting at University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus

03:00 , Mike Bedigan

Shooting suspect is 67-year-old college professor, reports

02:18 , Mike Bedigan

According to CNN, the suspect in the UNLV shooting is a 67-year-old career college professor.

Citing law enforcement sources, the outlet reported that the suspect has connections with schools in Georgia and North Carolina, but it is unknown what connection the suspect had with the UNLV.

Police said they are aware of the identity of the suspect, but will not release their identity until the families of the victims have been informed.

Las Vegas mayor sends condolences on behalf of the city

02:00 , Mike Bedigan

The mayor of Las Vegas, Carolyn Goodman, sent condolences on behalf of the city to the families of those affected by the shooting at UNLV.

“The families that have lost, who've had this tragedy, bespeak everything that is not good about our country, what's wrong and how we have to teach our children to handle stress and be able to work through anger and hate and other ways,” she told a press conference.

“It's a very difficult time and it's time for us as the adults – enough, it is enough and they're just people filled with anger or not understanding how to handle disappointment in their lives, that they become even more hateful and full of anger and take lives of others.

“So my condolences on behalf of the entire city and the community [and] to those we've lost those families that are so distraught and lost today and in the future. But it's a time to make it a positive and do something we must fix this now.”

Investigation will continue into ‘the wee hours’

01:20 , Mike Bedigan

Sheriff Kevin McMahill told the press conference: “We will be conducting this investigation into the wee hours of the morning, there is no doubt.

“I know you have an insatiable appetite like I do to find out why, to understand motivation, and we will provide that to you at the appropriate time.

“I would just like to end on the fact that we watched a lot of fear across the faces of those young men and women at UNLV today, and it's unfortunate that they had to live through that. But again, I'm proud of that first responder community for getting over there and doing that.”

Taking questions from reporters, Mr McMahill said that the attack had originated on the fourth floor of the BEAM building on the UNLV campus, and had gone throughout several floors, before the suspect was neutralised by officers.

Colleges will remain closed on Thursday and Friday

01:15 , Mike Bedigan

Mr Garcia said that closed campuses in southern Nevada following the shooting, would remain so on Thursday and Friday.

Further determinations will be made as to whether or not the university will reopen next week, which will be finals week for students.

Suspected gunman died in ‘shoot-out’ with officers

01:13 , Mike Bedigan

Adam Garcia, from the University Police Services – Southern Command, said the suspected gunman was killed following a shoot-out with two officers.

“First of all, let me begin by telling you all how heartbroken we are on our campus for what happened today... I am passing along our profound sense of loss for what occurred in the loss of life that took place.”

Describing the events of the incident he continued: “Two of our detectives responded to the scene and immediately engaged the suspect in a shootout. The suspect was struck and is deceased.”

Two officers injured in search for sheltering students

01:08 , Mike Bedigan

A fourth victim, who was taken to hospital in critical condition has now been upgraded to “stable”, LVMPD sheriff Kevin McMahill said.

Mr McMahill said two officers were injured during searches for students hiding in the “vast rooms and buildings” on the university campus.

“Our hearts go out to the entire UNLV community. No student should have to fear pursue pursuing their dreams on a college campus. What happened today is a heinous unforgivable crime,” he said.

Will student’s return to campus in the coming days?

00:35 , Mike Bedigan

One ULNV student told ABC News he was unsure if many would want to return to the campus following Wednesday’s incident.

“I have class show tomorrow and... it's scary. You don't know what's next, you don't. Like, I don't know if I'm going back to class tomorrow [and] even if I go back to class tomorrow – what's it going to be like? Do people even want to be here?

“Like, are people gonna want to even be on a college campus like this right now?

“Thank gosh, it's near the end of semester so we can have a month off for people to recover and hopefully we can grieve about this and come together as a community to pass this and go into next semester, but I don't know I'm super nervous, I'm nervous about next semester.”

Earlier, Adam Garcia, from the University Police Services – Southern Command, said that all higher education campuses in southern Nevada would be closed following the incident out of “an abundance of caution”.

Mr Garcia did not say when the campuses would reopen.

Three victims killed in shooting, police confirm

00:04 , Mike Bedigan

A post on X from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that three victims had been killed during the shooting on Wednesday.

The force said that an additional victim was also at a local hospital “in critical condition”.

The suspect in the incident is also deceased, according to police,

Three people were killed in a campus shooting, say reports.

23:57 , Graeme Massie

Three people were killed in a campus shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on Wednesday according to multiple reports.

The suspected gunman also died in the shooting, which took place days before the university’s more than 30,000 students were set to go home for the Christmas break.

Gun violence survivor Gabby Giffords speaks out on shooting

23:11 , Graeme Massie

“I’m preparing to speak tonight at the National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence, and then this,” she wrote on X.

“Another shooting at a college campus, this time at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Our children deserve a future without gun violence, and I will never stop fighting for it.”

Police surround UNLV after shooting with multiple victims reported

23:00 , Mike Bedigan

Authorities shut off roads close to a college in Las Vegas following reports of an active shooter on the campus on Wednesday, 6 December.

Police surround UNLV after shooting with multiple victims reported

22:45 , Mike Bedigan

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus, located less than two miles east of the Las Vegas Strip.

The college has a student enrollment of some 25,000 undergraduates and 8,000 post-graduates and doctoral candidates.

College basketball game cancelled following shooting

22:30 , Mike Bedigan

A scheduled basketball game, due to take place between UNLV and the University of Dayton was cancelled following the shooting.

A post on social media from Dayton read: “Due to the tragic events unfolding on UNLV’s campus, tonight’s men’s basketball contest between UNLV and the University of Dayton will not be played.

“Further information will be released when available. We ask that our fans keep the UNLV community in their thoughts and prayers.”

Hospital confirms it has received patient following Vegas shooting

22:25 , Mike Bedigan

Sunrise Hospital Trauma Center, located less than four miles from the UNLV campus, confirmed it had received one patient from the shooting on Wednesday.

“This afternoon, Sunrise Hospital Trauma Center has received a patient from the UNLV campus active shooter incident,” Marissa Mussi, Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center spokesperson, told CNN.

“Our hearts go out to the UNLV community, their families and everyone impacted by this tragedy.”

LVMPD confirms three victims of shooting

22:03 , Mike Bedigan

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed there were three victims from Wednesday’s shooting but that the extent of their injuries was “unknown”.

Sheriff Kevin McMahill said in an updated statement: “No more threat to the community. The suspect is deceased. Right now, we know there are 3 victims, but unknown extent of the injuries.”

He added: “That number could change. We will update you when we know more.”

Police are currently still combing the large UNLV campus looking for people sheltering.

Reunification centre set up for victims of shooting

21:54 , Mike Bedigan

A reunification centre has been set up at the Las Vegas convention centre to help victims of Wednesday’s shooting, according to fire chief John C Steinbeck.

“On behalf of the entire first responder community... our hearts go out to any of the families that are affected by this,” he told a press conference.

“Our update right now is that we do have a reunification center that has opened up at the convention center, that’s at the north hall.

“It will take time to transport students over to that area, but if you can’t get a hold of your loved ones right now, your kids or somebody that you’re concerned with, then that would be the place to go and to try to go ahead and do that reunification.”

Higher education campuses in southern Nevada closed

21:46 , Mike Bedigan

Adam Garcia, from the University Police Services – Southern Command, said that all higher education campuses in southern Nevada would be closed following the incident out of “an abundance of caution”.

“We do not have information of any potential victims at this point,” he told a press conference on Wednesday.

“What I can tell you as well, is that the entire Nevada System of Higher Education in Southern Nevada, campuses are all closed on an abundance of caution.

“There is no threat to any other campus but we are doing this out of an abundance of caution.”

LVMPD sheriff says there is ‘no further threat’ to community

21:39 , Mike Bedigan

LVMPD sheriff Kevin McMahill told a press conference that there was “no further threat” to the community.

“Of course we have no idea on the motive,” he said.

“There are a number of victims that had been transported to area hospitals so I don’t want to give you false information and tell you how many victims that we have but we will be providing that update very, very shortly.

“I want to assure the community, there is no further threat. We are continuing the investigation here. This is still a very active and dynamic scene so if you can avoid the area, we would appreciate it.

“We’ll be providing additional updates in the very near future.”

Police press conference to take place soon

21:30 , Mike Bedigan

Officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department are due to give an update on the incident shortly.

Watch: Police respond to shooting at University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus

21:15 , Mike Bedigan

Students describe ‘panic’ of shooting and evacuation

20:55 , Mike Bedigan

A student from the University of Nevada described sheltering in place in the student union building after hearing reports of an active shooter.

“We found out cops were on site and we just sheltered in place until we were evacuated. And it took us about 30 minutes to get us evacuated,” the student, who gave her name as Jessica, told CNN affiliate KVVU.

Another student who did not give her name told KVVU: “They had guns, we all walked out of the building hands up. They evacuated us out of the student union. We walked past one of the windows, the window was shot through, glass everywhere.”

The student said they could hear the gunshots from where they were in the student union.

“[There were] about 200 kids all in one space,” she said. “A lot of people were panicking.”

Las Vegas police say suspected shooter is ‘deceased’

20:44 , Mike Bedigan

‘Active shooting’ with multiple victims reported on Las Vegas college campus

20:34 , Mike Bedigan

An active shooting with “multiple victims” has been reported on a Las Vegas college campus, according to police.

Police responded to Beam Hall at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, according to a text sent to students and staff.

Graeme Massie has the full story:

‘Active shooting’ with multiple victims reported on Las Vegas college campus