Three Killed in Shooting at University of Nevada, Las Vegas Campus

By Nadine Yousif

Emergency crews and law enforcement respond to a shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, campus on 6 December 2023.
Photo: AFP

Three individuals lost their lives in a tragic shooting incident that took place on Wednesday morning at the University of Nevada (UNLV) campus in Las Vegas.

The suspect, described as a Caucasian male in his 60s and a former college professor, was ultimately killed during a confrontation with law enforcement officials.

Although the identities of the victims have not been disclosed by the police, reports from various American media outlets suggest that none of them were students.

Located approximately 3km from the renowned Las Vegas Strip, the UNLV campus will remain closed on Thursday and Friday as authorities conduct their investigation.

CBS News, the BBC’s US partner, has identified the gunman as Anthony Polito and revealed that he had applied for a position at the university. Previous law enforcement sources informed CBS News that the suspect had previously taught at educational institutions in Georgia and North Carolina.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Kevin McMahill, Sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, stated that the motive behind the shooting remains unknown at this time, and no details regarding the weapon used have been released.

This tragic incident adds to the alarming statistics of mass shootings in the United States, with over 630 such occurrences reported this year alone. It is worth noting that Las Vegas was also the site of the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, where more than 50 individuals lost their lives during a music festival in 2017.

The university first alerted the public to the shooting via a tweet at approximately 11:53 am local time on Wednesday, notifying them that law enforcement officers were responding to reports of gunfire on campus.

About 20 minutes later, the university issued another statement, stating that campus police were investigating additional reports of shots fired near the Student Union building.

In adherence to standard active shooter protocols in the US, students at Beam Hall, which houses the university’s business school, were urged to evacuate to a safe area and follow the “RUN-HIDE-FIGHT” procedure.

According to the police, the gunman moved through different floors of Beam Hall before eventually leaving the building. University Police Chief Adam Garcia confirmed that the suspect was subsequently killed during an exchange of gunfire with two officers.

Sheriff McMahill commended the university police force’s quick response, which potentially saved the lives of students who were outside Beam Hall, engaged in various activities and enjoying meals at the time of the incident.

He stated, “If it hadn’t been for the heroic actions of one of those police officers who responded, there could have been countless additional lives taken.”

The only surviving victim of the shooting is currently in stable condition at a local hospital, according to the sheriff. Additionally, four other individuals were taken to the hospital due to panic attacks, and two police officers received treatment for minor injuries.

A student present on campus during the shooting told a local ABC station that it felt as though the police arrived on the scene almost immediately. Describing the terrifying situation, the student reported, “You don’t know what to do. You’re calling your family, texting your friends like ‘I love you guys’ because he [the shooter] could burst through the door at any minute.”

In response to the incident, President Joe Biden released a statement expressing his condolences, stating that UNLV had become the “latest college campus to be terrorized by a horrific act of gun violence.” He and First Lady Jill Biden extended their prayers to the families affected by the tragedy.

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman referred to the news as “tragic and heart-breaking” and expressed her prayers for everyone present on campus.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are collaborating with local law enforcement to investigate the incident.

Late on Wednesday night, students were permitted to return to their campus housing, with the university assuring them of a “strong police presence” for their safety.

– This story was first published by the BBC