A College of Southern Nevada sociology professor reportedly shot himself to protest President Donald Trump last month. Now, the professor, identified as Mark J. Bird, is facing multiple charges in the event that happened on the college campus.
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According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, police charged the professor with discharging a gun within a prohibited structure, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit and possessing a dangerous weapon on school property.
In the college’s newsletter to staff, the president wrote, “An emeritus professor was treated for a self-inflicted injury in the hospital and subsequently arrested and charged with possessing a weapon on campus and other charges. I appreciate all of the expressions of concern and interest, and I pledge to keep everyone updated should the situation change.”
However, the College of Southern Nevada has released little additional information, nor did it identify Bird. In fact, Robert Manis, president of the Nevada Faculty Alliance, expressed concern to the Las Vegas Review-Journal about how the college handled the incident.
“They never really told the students much about it except that it was resolved on the actual day of the shooting,” Manis said. “When you don’t give the full details, then rumors go crazy. It’s unfortunate because it made the students and faculty very afraid and allowed rumors to proliferate.”
Nevada Sociology Professor Self-Inflicted Gunshot
Supposedly, Bird shot himself in the bathroom on the Charleston campus in the K building. Afterwards, Bird exited the bathroom, where employees and a student saw him bleeding before he collapsed. Witnesses claim to have heard a loud noise before finding Bird. As witnesses tried to stop the bleeding, Bird apparently said he did it in protest of the president.
During the investigation, campus police found a .22-caliber pistol, along with a single casing, in the bathroom. They also found a $100 bill and note stating, “For the janitor.”
Bird has taught at College of Southern Nevada since 1993. However, he was not scheduled to teach during the 2018 fall semester. It is unknown whether Bird is still employed by the college. It is also unknown if he will face disciplinary action for the incident.
