Unraveling the Motive: Unveiling Details of the UNLV Gunman who Fatally Targeted 3 Faculty Members
UNLV shocked by tragic loss of 3 faculty members as investigators delve into the motive behind the gunman's deadly rampage Authorities reveal Polito's financial struggles and multiple rejections for higher education jobs in Nevada
The motive of Anthony Polito, the gunman responsible for the deaths of 3 faculty members at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is being investigated. Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed that investigators have discovered a "target list" that included faculty members at the university and other locations.
During the shooting inside a UNLV business school building, Polito was shot and killed by police after injuring a fourth person. The victim, identified as a visiting male professor, is currently being treated for life-threatening injuries, according to McMahill.
The 67-year-old Polito had compiled a "target list" consisting of individuals he was looking for on the university campus and faculty members from Eastern Carolina University, stated McMahill on Thursday. However, he clarified that none of the faculty members who were shot on Wednesday were listed. McMahill did not elaborate on the basis for the investigators' belief that it was a list of targets or the location where the document was discovered.
Police evacuate students after a shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, on Wednesday. K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
K.M. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
UNLV gunman sent letters to university personnel across the country before shootings, sheriff says
The motive behind Polito's targeting of UNLV, and whether he had any ties to the school, remains unclear. Prior to this, he had worked at schools in Georgia and North Carolina, as shown on his now-removed LinkedIn page, and had served as a business professor at Eastern Carolina University. Additionally, he had been an adjunct instructor at Roseman University in Henderson until 2022, confirmed by the school.
According to McMahill, Polito had applied unsuccessfully for several higher education jobs in Nevada and was apparently facing financial difficulties, as evidenced by an eviction notice discovered on the door of his Henderson apartment.
Prior to the shooting, Polito had sent 22 letters to university personnel nationwide with no return address, according to the sheriff. Some of the envelopes contained white powder, but police confirmed on Thursday evening that the substance was not harmful. Additional information about the letters' contents has not been disclosed.
Investigators are collaborating with postal inspectors and federal authorities to analyze the letters, and are urging academic professionals who receive a letter with no return address to use caution, McMahill stated.
UNLV president Keith Whitfield characterized the shooting, occurring just days before final exams, as "the most challenging day in the history of our university."
The shooting started just before noon on Wednesday inside Beam Hall, where professors were getting students ready for their upcoming exams. Outside, a group of students were engaging in games, food, and other activities.
Business school professors Patricia Navarro-Velez and Cha-Jan "Jerry" Chang were among the two individuals who lost their lives, as announced by the president in a letter to the school community on Thursday. The identity of the third faculty member will be disclosed once their family has been notified. "I won't sugarcoat it. We are all hurting right now," Whitfield stated. "But it's during these difficult times that we must rely on each other for support."
UNLV mourns beloved faculty
In his letter to the university community, Whitfield acknowledged the shock many on campus are grappling with following the loss of several beloved faculty members.
"Finding the right words is a challenge as we try to cope with the sorrow, pain, frustration, and anxiety following the devastating campus shooting on Wednesday, which claimed the lives of three beloved faculty members," Whitfield expressed.
The president also spoke about Navarro-Velez, a dedicated accounting assistant professor who had been committed to shaping the future of accountants during her nearly five-year tenure at the school.
Chang, the second professor killed, had been teaching business school students at UNLV for over 20 years as a "longtime educator of management information systems," according to Whitfield. Navarro-Velez, 39, worked on the fourth floor of Beam Hall and Chang, 64, worked on the third floor, the sheriff stated.
CNNs Cheri Mossburg, Jillian Sykes, Andy Rose and Evan Perez contributed to this report.
