Gunman in UNLV Shooting Identified as Anthony Polito; Letters Mailed to University Personnel Before Attack

Accident – death – Obituary News : Gunman Who Opened Fire at University of Nevada, Las Vegas Mailed Letters to University Personnel Before Attack, Police Say

In a shocking incident that unfolded on Wednesday, a gunman opened fire at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), killing three people. The Las Vegas Metro Police Department has now revealed that the suspect had mailed letters to 22 university personnel across the country before the attack. The letters, which were sent without a return address, caused panic when a white powder substance was discovered in one of the envelopes intercepted by law enforcement. However, it was later determined that the powder was harmless.

The contents of the letters remain unknown, leaving authorities concerned about the intentions behind the correspondence. Police were able to intercept all 22 letters, which were mailed from a post office in nearby Henderson, Nevada. The recipients have been contacted and urged to report any suspicious packages to local authorities.

The suspect responsible for the attack has been identified as Anthony Polito, a 67-year-old who had applied for multiple jobs within the Nevada higher education system, including at UNLV. However, he was consistently denied employment. Polito was found to be carrying a list containing the names of faculty members from UNLV and East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, where he had worked for 16 years. Authorities believe that the shooter targeted individuals on this list.

Clark County Commission Chairman Jim Gibson emphasized that the students were not the intended targets in this tragic incident. Law enforcement officials have been working diligently to ensure the safety of everyone on the list, except for one ECU faculty member who is currently on an international flight. Fortunately, none of the faculty members on the list were victims of the attack.

The sequence of events leading up to the shooting has also been revealed. The gunman arrived on the UNLV campus at 11:28 a.m. local time and parked his 2007 Lexus in a parking lot south of Beam Hall. He entered the building at 11:33 a.m. and began firing shots approximately 12 minutes later. University Police Chief Adam Garcia stated that the first officer arrived at the scene just 78 seconds after the first shots were reported.

Two officers bravely entered Beam Hall upon hearing the gunfire and engaged the shooter. The suspect eventually left the building at 11:55 a.m. and was confronted by two plainclothes officers, leading to a shootout. The suspect was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victims of the attack have been identified as Patricia Navarro-Velez, a 39-year-old assistant professor of accounting, and ChaJan “Jerry” Chang, a 64-year-old business professor. The identity of the third deceased victim has not been released. Another victim, a 38-year-old visiting professor at UNLV, is currently in critical condition at Sunrise Hospital.

While the motive for the attack remains unclear, authorities are analyzing the suspect’s social media accounts and personal devices for any potential warning signs. They have confirmed that the shooter acted alone. The weapon used was a legally purchased Taurus 9 mm handgun, and the suspect was carrying 11 magazines, nine of which were loaded.

A search of the suspect’s apartment revealed a Taurus handgun box matching the weapon used in the attack. Additionally, authorities discovered a chair with an arrow pointing to a document resembling a last will and testament, although its contents have not been disclosed. Financial struggles were evident as well, with an eviction notice posted on the front door of the suspect’s apartment.

Las Vegas Metro Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill expressed relief that the shooter did not manage to carry out any further acts of violence beyond the UNLV attack. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to uncover more details about the tragic incident.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com..