UCLA: Woman on 'kill list' in suspected shooter's home found dead in Minnesota

Police identified Mainak Sarkar as the suspected shooter

Members of security at the University of California's Los Angeles campus following the shooting (Getty)

A woman whose name appeared on a "kill list" belonging to the man identified as the UCLA gunman has been found dead in Minnesota.

Los Angeles Police identified Mainak Sarkar, a former doctoral student, as the suspected shooter in an incident that took the life of engineering professor William Klug on Wednesday morning. Mr Sarkar then turned the gun on himself, taking his own life.

Police Chief Charlie Beck told reporters that a so-called "kill list" was found in Mr Sarkar's Minnesota home, and included the names of another UCLA professor and a woman in a Minneapolis suburb, according to KTLA.

"Professor Klug’s name was on that list, as was another UCLA professor who was alright," Mr Beck said.

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, police said that they conducted a welfare check on the woman, when she was found shot dead in her home.

“The welfare check was related to the recent shooting investigation on the campus of the University of California Los Angeles,” Brooklyn Park Police Deputy Chief Mark Bruley told the Star Tribune. "Early indications are the shooting occurred prior to the UCLA event."

Police did not say whether or not Mr Sarkar shot the woman.

Mr Beck said that Mr Sarkar drove from Minnesota to Los Angeles with two guns and multiple rounds of ammunition. Police have not yet located the vehicle, but hope to contain it as evidence.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the LAPD said Mr Sarkar was a former doctoral student who had previously accused Mr Klug of stealing his computer code.

Mr Sarkar had directed much of his ire at the slain aerospace engineering pressure on social media for some time, according to reports.

“William Klug, UCLA professor is not the kind of person when you think of a professor. He is a very sick person. I urge every new student coming to UCLA to stay away from this guy,” Mr Sarkar had reportedly posted to social media in March. “He made me really sick. Your enemy is my enemy. But your friend can do a lot more harm. Be careful about whom you trust.”

However, a university source told the Times that Mr Sarkar's accusations were baseless, and said that Mr Klug had gone above and beyond to help his student with his dissertation.

“Bill was extremely generous to this student, who was a subpar student,” the source said. “He helped him out and interceded for him academically.”

Mr Sarkar - who earned a master's degree from Stanford University and a bachelor's in aerospace engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kharagpur reportedly thanked Mr Klug for his help and support in the acknowledgements section of his 2013 dissertation.

Multiple law enforcement agencies - including the FBI - locked down the UCLA campus for two hours on Wedndesday after the two men were shot dead. The campus was declared safe by midday, and classes were set to resume Thursday. Courses in the engineering department would remain canceled for the remainder of the week.

“We want to resume normal operations as quickly as possible," Vice Chancellor Scott Waugh said in a statement.

UCLA is making grief counselors available for all students, faculty, and staff.

“Our UCLA family has indeed been shaken, but we will rely upon the strong bonds of our community and our faith in one another as we begin the process of healing,” UCLA chancellor Gene Block said.

Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti lashed out against the dangers that guns present to the city.

“This horrific event, at an institution dedicated to learning and mutual understanding, reminds us once again of the fragility of a peaceful society," he said.

"Thankfully, the campus is now safe - but I am heartbroken by the sight of SWAT teams running down avenues normally filled with students, and angered by the fear that one person with a firearm can inflict on a community."