University of Nevada, Las Vegas Shooting: Three Faculty Members Killed, Gunman Identified as Failed Professor

A tragic incident unfolded at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) on Wednesday, as a 67-year-old professor shot and killed three faculty members before being fatally shot by the police. The gunman, Anthony Polito, had been living in a Las Vegas suburb and had previously tried and failed to secure several teaching positions at colleges in the state.

The shooting took place inside Frank and Estella Beam Hall, which houses the UNLV business school. The victims were identified as Patricia Navarro Velez, 39, an assistant professor of accounting, and Cha Jan Chang, 64, a professor of management information systems. The identity of the third faculty member killed has been withheld until family members are notified. A fourth person, a 38-year-old visiting professor, was also shot and is being treated at a hospital for life-threatening injuries.

Before the shooting, Polito sent 22 letters to employees at universities across the country, one of which contained an unknown white powder. The contents of the other letters are currently unknown. Polito was armed with a 9-millimeter handgun and had 11 magazines with him during the attack. Two magazines had been emptied by the time he was killed.

Authorities are still trying to determine the exact motive behind the shooting, but Polito had reportedly created a list of people he intended to target at UNLV and East Carolina University in North Carolina, where he previously taught. Financial trouble may have been a contributing factor, as officers discovered an eviction notice at his apartment.

The shooting sent shockwaves through the UNLV campus, which was preparing for final exams. Students and faculty members sought shelter in classrooms after hearing the gunshots. A campus police officer arrived within 78 seconds of the initial call, and a shootout between the officer and Polito ensued. The gunman was ultimately stopped, preventing a potentially larger tragedy.

UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield described the incident as the realization of their greatest fear. While considering additional security measures, Whitfield expressed his reluctance to close off the campus from the surrounding city.

The shooting at UNLV has once again brought attention to the issue of campus safety, leaving the community in mourning and searching for answers in the wake of this senseless act of violence.