PICTURED: First of three University of Nevada Las Vegas mass shooting victims is identified as female assistant professor in accounting department

The first victim of the horrific mass shooting at the University of Nevada was an assistant professor at the college’s Las Vegas campus.

Patricia Navarro, 39, was a lecturer in the university’s accounting department and was named as one of three employees killed in Wednesday’s shooting.

In an Instagram post posted by the California All-Stars Las Vegas Cheer Gym, Navarro was identified as the gym said: “Our hearts are broken as we share the devastating news of the loss of our beloved Cali family member in yesterday’s senseless shooting.

“Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the Navarro family during this unimaginably difficult time,” the statement said.

Patricia Navarro, an assistant professor of accounting at UNLV, was identified as the first of three shooting victims.

An assistant professor was killed when gunman Tony Polito went on a rampage on the UNLV campus Wednesday morning, where police officers were seen at the scene of the college shooting.

Anthony Polito (pictured) has been named as the deceased suspect in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas shooting.

Navarro was killed in a horrific 40-minute rampage carried out by 67-year-old professor Tony Polito, who did not work at UNLV but reportedly applied for a job there and was rejected.

Two other victims were killed in the shooting and a fourth was wounded but is in stable condition, Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a news conference Wednesday evening.

A huge number of police officers, including tactical teams, were seen making their way towards the college after an alert was issued to students warning them to “RUN-HIDE-FIGHT”.

Less than an hour after the alarm was raised, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced that the suspect had died, and footage showed terrified students being gradually escorted out of buildings across campus.