Suspect in UNLV Shooting Had List of Targets at Multiple Universities, Police Confirm

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In a tragic incident that unfolded at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada (UNLV), a suspect opened fire on the campus, leading to the loss of three faculty members’ lives and injuring a fourth. Additionally, the suspect was found to have a list of potential targets not only at UNLV but also at East Carolina University in North Carolina, according to authorities.

The devastating events occurred on Wednesday when the gunman, later identified as Anthony Polito, unleashed gunfire within UNLV’s Lee Business School. The victims included business school professors Patricia Navarro-Velez and Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang. The third victim’s identity has been withheld pending notification of their family. Furthermore, a visiting professor, aged 38, who was among those injured, was listed in life-threatening condition.

UNLV’s President, Keith E. Whitfield, expressed the gravity of the situation, deeming it “the most difficult day in the history of our university.” Both Navarro-Velez and Chang were prominent figures in their respective fields. Navarro-Velez, aged 39, held a Ph.D. in accounting and was actively engaged in research related to cybersecurity disclosures and data analytics. Chang, aged 64, had a substantial academic career at UNLV, beginning in 2001, with degrees from Taiwan, Central Michigan University, Texas A&M University, and a Ph.D. in management information systems from the University of Pittsburgh.

Law enforcement officials revealed that the suspect, Polito, was in possession of a legally acquired 9mm handgun, purchased just last year. They are still investigating the number of rounds fired during the rampage and attempting to discern the motive behind the attack. Notably, Polito had applied for several positions at various colleges and universities in Nevada but had been repeatedly denied.

Before the shooting, Polito had mailed 22 letters addressed to faculty members across the U.S., though the contents of these letters remain undisclosed pending further investigation. Law enforcement conducted a search of Polito’s apartment in Henderson, Nevada, retrieving electronic devices, including his cellphone.

Polito had a prior academic career at East Carolina University, where he served as an associate professor in the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management from 2001 to 2017, eventually resigning from his tenured position in January 2017.

Reports from his former students suggest Polito’s fixation on Las Vegas and an unusual preoccupation with student reviews. He would recall students who gave him unfavorable reviews and even pinpoint their seating arrangements in the classroom.

This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the community, particularly because it occurred in Las Vegas, a city still grappling with the memories of the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history in 2017. However, authorities credit the lessons learned from that incident with helping them respond swiftly to the UNLV attack.

As the investigation unfolds, the university community and the nation at large grapple with the profound impact of this senseless act of violence, reminding us all of the importance of vigilance and preparedness in an uncertain world.

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