‘Cops saved my life’: Fourth UNLV shooting victim tells story

The fourth victim in the UNLV shooting on Dec. 6 that killed three people came forward to share his story publicly for the first time Tuesday, according to a university spokesperson.

Daraboth “Bot” Rith, an economics professor in the Lee Business School at UNLV, was shot 10 times by the lone gunman, according to a story posted on the university’s website.

According to the story, Rith “stayed on his feet,” escaping down four flights of stairs and fleeing Beam Hall. He encountered two Metropolitan Police Department officers — Jake Noriega and Ty Vesperas — who provided medical care and drove him to an ambulance.

“These cops saved my life,” Rith told UNLV. “Without them, I could be gone. I feel that I owe gratitude, immense gratitude, for the service they do to save people’s lives.”

A UNLV spokesperson said that “due to the stress of speaking publicly,” Rith and his wife would not be conducting media interviews. The university released a video interview and its own news article featuring Rith and members of the school community.

Rith and his wife, Dimanche Pharath Rith, a business manager with UNLV Online Education, were welcomed and recognized by UNLV President Keith Whitfield and Provost Chris Heavey during a Tuesday town hall meeting of faculty and staff, according to Francis McCabe, director of public affairs.

The couple received “an emotional standing ovation” at the event, according to UNLV.

Rith’s journey to recovery

“Nine months ago my life took an unexpected turn that brought about profound changes,” he told the audience. “It was a period marked by uncertainty, fear and challenges that, at times, I felt were overwhelming. Yet through it all, I discovered things within myself that I never knew existed. I was sustained not only by my own resilience but by the incredible support from all of you.”

He recounted his journey to recovery. “I want to stand up and be able to walk again,” Rith recalled telling doctors and nurses. “I want to be, you know, the person I used to be.”

Starting in a wheelchair, Rith said he did physical exercises, progressively trying to take more and more steps. At first, even sitting up left Rith “really fatigued.”

He recalled starting to pass out when trying to climb stairs for the first time.

“It was a tragic moment,” Rith said, describing immense pain.

Reuniting with officers

On Aug. 28, in a conference room on the university’s campus, Rith greeted the officers who saved him. He spotted Noriega, despite having only seen him once since the shooting, according to UNLV.

“I keep saying to people I want to see you again and again,” Rith told Noriega.

Rith and his wife embraced members of the university police department to thank them. The two university police officers who shot and killed the 67-year-old shooter, Anthony Polito, also were present.

In addition to critically injuring Rith, Polito killed professors Patricia Navarro Velez, 39, Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, 64, and Naoko Takemaru, 69.

“That day changed the lives of so many,” said Arnold Vasquez, interim director of University Police Services southern command.

Vasquez said Rith and his wife are “living proof” that “the work we do matters.”

Rith spent nearly three months in the hospital, according to UNLV. After nine months, he returned to campus to teach four in-person classes.

“For me, teaching is more than a dream come true,” Rith said. “I am, myself, proud to be a member of the UNLV family. I value this and treasure it.”

Contact Estelle Atkinson at eatkinson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @estellelilym on X and @estelleatkinsonreports on Instagram.