Two faculty members of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) have been identified as victims in the recent shooting on campus. The Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner confirmed that Professor Cha Jan Chang, also known as “Jerry,” and assistant professor Patricia Navarro Velez were among the victims. The identity of the third victim, also a faculty member, will not be released until their next of kin is notified.
Professor Chang had been teaching at UNLV since 2001 and was part of the Lee Business School. He taught management information systems and was a renowned speaker at various conferences and presentations. Assistant professor Navarro Velez worked in the accounting department and had a Ph.D. in accounting from the University of Central Florida. Her research focused on cybersecurity disclosures and assurance.
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The cause of death for Professor Chang was a gunshot wound to the head, while Navarro Velez suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Both deaths have been ruled as homicides by the coroner’s office.
A fourth victim, a visiting professor, was also injured in the shooting and remains in a non-life-threatening condition. The shooter has been identified as 67-year-old Anthony James Polito. According to Sheriff Kevin McMahill, Polito had applied for jobs at several Nevada higher education institutions but was denied each time. He was also experiencing financial difficulties.
Police discovered that Polito had sent 22 letters to various university personnel across the country, but the contents of these letters are unknown. One of the letters contained a white powder. Polito had previously worked as an assistant professor at Eastern Carolina University and had resigned from his tenure position in 2017.
The shooting occurred in Beam Hall, which houses the business school, and was quickly responded to by city and university police. Officers engaged Polito outside the building, ultimately killing him. Polito was armed with a Taurus 9 mm handgun and had brought 11 magazines with him.
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As the investigation continues, the UNLV community is coming together to support one another and honor the memory of the victims. University police chief Adam Garcia described the two detectives who engaged the shooter as heroes, as they risked their lives to save others.
