Naoko Takemaru, 69, an associate professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), was identified as the third victim in Wednesday’s shooting.

Who was Naoko Takemaru?

The Clark County Coroner’s office identified the third victim in the UNLV shooting as Naoko Takemaru, a 69-year-old associate professor of Japanese Studies. Dr. Takemaru received the William Morris Award for Excellence in Teaching from UNLV’s College of Liberal Arts and oversaw the Japanese Studies Program. She taught various courses on Japanese language, culture, and business.

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Alongside Dr. Takemaru, the coroner previously identified 64-year-old professor Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang and 39-year-old associate professor Patricia Navarro Velez as victims. Both Chang and Velez worked at UNLV’s Beam Building (BEH). The cause of death for all three victims was determined to be multiple gunshot wounds, classified as homicides.

Dr. Takemaru’s contributions extended beyond teaching, as evidenced by her book “Women in the Language and Society of Japan: The Linguistic Roots of Bias” and various publications in refereed journals. She taught all levels of Japanese language, coordinated language programs at the university level, and received recognition for her teaching excellence.

UNLV President Keith Whitfield expressed sorrow over the loss of Dr. Takemaru, highlighting her dedication to Japanese Studies. The university community mourns the tragic shooting that claimed the lives of three faculty members. The suspected shooter, identified as “semi-retired” professor Anthony Polito, was also described in police reports.

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As the UNLV community grapples with this devastating incident, investigations into the motive and circumstances of the shooting continue. The identities of the victims and their significant roles within the university underline the profound impact of this tragedy on the academic community.