A Vanderbilt University student was killed during a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv, Israel while on a school trip.
University officials sent out a letter Tuesday informing students and staff that Taylor Force was killed in the incident on Tuesday.
Force was a student of the university's Owen Graduate School of Management, and part of a group of students that traveled to Israel to study global entrepreneurship. He also went to share his insights and knowledge with start-ups in Israel.
Force was killed in a string of Palestinian attacks on civilians and police including an attack in the Mediterranean port city of Jaffa in which an assailant stabbed seven people, killing Force and wounding the others before he was shot and killed, police said.
In the letter, Vanderbilt officials expressed their sadness and sympathy toward Force's family.
"He exemplified the spirit of discovery, learning and service that is the hallmark of our wonderful Owen community. This horrific act of violence has robbed our Vanderbilt family of a young hopeful life and all of the bright promise that he held for bettering our greater world," said Chancellor, Nicholas S. Zeppos in the letter.
According to his Linkedin account, Force was a U.S. Army Veteran who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and went to West Point.
The university made resources available for faculty, students, and staff in light of the tragedy.
The attack was just one in multiple Palestinian stabbing and shooting attacks that came as Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Israel on a two-day visit as part of a regional tour of the Mideast.
Four Palestinian attackers were shot and killed in the day's rash of violence that wounded a dozen Israelis. It was the latest bloodshed in a five-month wave of near-daily Palestinian attacks on civilians and security forces.
Full letter from Chancellor Zeppos:
Dear Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff,
It is with extreme sadness that I write to inform you that Taylor Force, a student at our Owen Graduate School of Management, was fatally wounded March 8 in a stabbing attack while on an Owen school trip to Tel Aviv, Israel. All other Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff on the trip are safe.
Taylor embarked on this trip to expand his understanding of global entrepreneurship and also to share his insights and knowledge with start-ups in Israel. He exemplified the spirit of discovery, learning and service that is the hallmark of our wonderful Owen community. This horrific act of violence has robbed our Vanderbilt family of a young hopeful life and all of the bright promise that he held for bettering our greater world.
Taylor’s family and his friends and colleagues have our deepest sympathy and utmost support.
In light of this loss, we as a community can look to find strength by continuing our commitment to build and nurture an educational environment whose foundational mission is to expand world peace and enlightenment.
We also have university resources available for faculty, students, and staff. For students, please reach out to the Psychological Counseling Center 615-322-2571; for faculty and staff to the Employee Assistance Program 615-936-1327. The Office of Religious Life and University Chaplain can be reached at 615-322-2457.
Sincerely,
Nicholas S. Zeppos
Chancellor
