The recent turn of events following a UCLA shooting is like watching a meticulously written crime plot unfolding. A note found at the crime scene not only instructed its finder to look for the murderer's cat but also included a Minnesota home address where a "kill list" and a dead woman's body were found.
Mainak Sarkar, the identified gunman, turned a normal Wednesday school day at UCLA into a seemingly zombie apocalypse as students and staff heard gun shots fired at the Engineering Building. Photos on Twitter showed students stranded on their rooms, shielding doors with printers, tables and whatever article at their disposal, out of fear that a massive shooting will happen next (via CNN).
Fortunately, the last gun shot was the end of the threat in UCLA. Police soon roamed around the campus instructing students and staff alike to evacuate the premises as they investigate where the gun shots came from. It led the police to a small room at the 4th Floor of the Engineering Building where Professor William Klug held office (via CNN).
The 39-year old professor was found dead along with a 38-year old man who was later identified as an alumnus of UCLA who completed his doctorate degree in mechanical engineering on 2013. There were two semi-automatic pistols and ammunition found as well as a note written with a reminder, "check on my cat," and a home address. (via Los Angeles Times).
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) were first uneasy of the note because an easy trail like that could be indicative of another danger the murderer might have left. True enough, another crime scene was found at the Minessota home with a woman, identified as Ashley Hasti, dead from a gun shot. Kitty, the cat who Sarkar might have referred to, was the only breath of life left in the now abandoned home (via Los Angeles Times).
Hasti and Sarkar were married in 2011 but it is unknown whether the two are still married at the time of the crime, and if she was killed prior to the UCLA shooting. Since 2012, Ashley Hasti has been a medical student at University of Minnesotta Medical School. She met Sarkar in California from 2009 to 2010 (via Star Tribune).
Upon further inspection of the house, a "kill list" emerged and in it were written three names: Ashley Hasti, William Klug, and another professor at UCLA. The other professor was contacted and is reported to be safe after fortunately being on leave when Sarkar visited the halls of UCLA for one last time.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck told reporters that upon contact, the unnamed professor seemed to be aware that he and Sarkar had issues. Beck still maintained that the two professors did not expect a homicide coming (via ABC News).
The murder-suicide is speculated to be linked to a rift on intellectual property. According to Beck, a deleted social media post of Mainak Sarkar used "harsh language" accusing William Klug of lending his computer code to another student (via ABC News).
As per CNN, Beck said that the incident might have been caused by Sarkar's mental health. It was only in the man's mind that intellectual property theft was committed.
"Everybody tries to look for a reason for this. Well, first of all, there is no good reason for this. This is a mental issue, mental derangement, but it was tied to a dispute over intellectual property," Beck told KTLA-TV as per CNN.
UCLA expressed grief over William Klug's death. The professor is a husband and a father of two children. He has been teaching at the university since 2003 and is said to be popular among students because of his kindness and intelligence.
"Everytime I went to his office hours, there's no way he would let me leave his office hours without him fixing my code. Even if it was past his office hours. Great person, great profesor," Jizhai Cui, a former student of William said as per Los Angeles Times.
Classes on UCLA resumed Thursday except for Engineering students. Classes will resume at the Engineering Building on Monday (via CNN).
