College professor shoots himself in protest against Donald Trump

A sociology professor shot himself in protest at Donald Trump’s presidency, police have said.

Mark J Bird, an academic at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) in Las Vegas, was charged with firing a handgun in a prohibited building, carrying a weapon without a permit, and possessing a dangerous weapon on school property.

A student found the 69-year-old bleeding from his arm outside one of the university’s bathrooms last month, according to a police report obtained by the Las Vegas Review Journal.

As witnesses attempted to calm Mr Bird and stop the bleeding, the professor reportedly told one college employee who was holding his hand he had shot himself in protest at the US president. The police report failed to provide further details.

Mr Bird was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for injuries not considered life-threatening.

Inside the bathroom, police found a $100 (£76) bill taped to a mirror, alongside a note reading, “For the janitor”, the police report said. Officers found a .22-calibre pistol with one used shell-casing on the floor.

Mr Bird, employed by the university since 1993, was an emeritus staff member at the time of the shooting, according to a college spokesperson.

As of last week, he was still employed by the university, although it was not clear if internal action would be taken against him, the spokesperson added.

In a newsletter, CSN president Federico Zaragoza failed to identify the professor, but wrote: “I appreciate all of the expressions of concern and interest, and I pledge to keep everyone updated should the situation change.”

The university’s faculty union president criticised CNS for allowing rumours to “go crazy” after failing to tell students “much about it except that it was resolved on the actual day of the shooting”.

“It’s unfortunate because it made the students and faculty very afraid and allowed rumours to proliferate," he added.

Mr Bird was scheduled for an initial court hearing this week.