A professor was identified by authorities on Thursday as one of the men
fatally shot in a murder-suicide at the University of California, Los
Angeles, that shut down the sprawling campus for two hours a day
earlier.
Los Angeles police said on Wednesday the gunman shot himself after
fatally wounding another man, but declined to elaborate on the
circumstances of the incident.
University officials said classes would resume on Thursday and counselors will be available for students, faculty and staff.
“Our hearts are heavy this evening as our campus family mourns the
sudden and tragic deaths of two people on our campus earlier today,”
said Chancellor Gene Block in a statement.
Klug was a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering,
according to the university’s website. The Los Angeles Times reported
that Klug was attempting to develop a computer-generated virtual heart.
“You cannot ask for a nicer, gentler, sweeter and more supportive guy
than William Klug,” professor Alan Garfinkel told the newspaper of his
colleague.
The coroner’s office declined to identify the other man involved in
the shooting. The incident caused the large campus to be locked down for
about two hours as students were told to shelter in place.
Engineering student Aaron Feigelman said he received a text message
alerting him to an emergency and entered an adjacent building, where he
and five others took refuge for 90 minutes.
“We tied the bathroom door hinges with belts to keep the door closed
because there were no locks. And we just waited. It was really scary,”
Feigelman said.
Some 200 police officers wearing bulletproof vests and helmets
responded to several calls of shot fired, converging on the campus with
rifles drawn, fearing the shooter might still be active.
Police recovered what may turn out to be a suicide note and a gun at the scene, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said.
UCLA, attended by more than 43,000 students, is in the Westwood
section of Los Angeles and is one of the more well-regarded schools in
the University of California system.
“I am heartbroken by the sight of SWAT teams running down avenues
normally filled with students, and angered by the fear that one person
with a firearm can inflict on a community,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric
Garcetti said.
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