Mass Shooting at University of Nevada, Las Vegas Leaves Three Dead, Gunman Identified as Academic

Accident – Death – Obituary News : LAS VEGAS — The gunman responsible for a mass shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has been identified as Anthony Polito, a 67-year-old academic who was seeking work at the university, according to law enforcement sources. The shooting took place on Wednesday and left three people dead, including the gunman.

Law enforcement officials searched Polito’s apartment in Henderson with the help of a SWAT team on Wednesday night. It is believed that Polito specifically targeted some of his victims, although their identities have not been released to the public.

The shooting occurred at the Frank and Estella Beam Hall, which houses the Lee Business School at UNLV. Students and faculty at the university, as well as members of the surrounding community, have been left devastated by the tragedy. Classes at UNLV have been canceled through Sunday as a result.

The incident has brought back painful memories of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, which took place in Las Vegas in 2017. Many students are questioning why such violence has occurred again, especially in a place that is supposed to be safe and supportive.

During the shooting, students took cover and barricaded themselves in rooms as shots rang out. Law enforcement officials, including Las Vegas Metro police and SWAT teams, responded swiftly to the scene. The assailant died around 12:30 p.m., approximately 30 minutes after the first shot was fired, according to sources.

In addition to the three fatalities, a fourth victim who sustained a gunshot wound is in stable condition. Four others were taken to the hospital for panic attacks, while two police officers suffered minor injuries during a sweep of the campus.

The Sunrise Hospital Trauma Center has confirmed that it is treating three patients who were injured in the shooting. The hospital activated its mass casualty protocol in response to the incident.

UNLV President Keith Whitfield expressed his grief and condolences in a statement, promising to honor and remember the victims. Students are now urging university leaders to cancel final exams, move them online, or provide bereavement considerations for students affected by the tragedy.

The UNLV community is grappling with the fear and uncertainty that comes with such a traumatic event. Students are questioning how they can feel safe returning to school and worry about the potential for future incidents.

Carlos Eduardo Espina, a UNLV student with a large following on TikTok, livestreamed his experience during the lockdown. He expressed confusion over conflicting reports about the shooter’s location, which caused panic among students who feared there might be another gunman on campus.

UNLV, located near the Las Vegas Strip, has an enrollment of approximately 25,000 undergraduates and 8,000 postgraduates and doctoral candidates. The university’s academic calendar shows that this is the last week of regular instruction, with final exams scheduled for next week.

As students left campus, many expressed feelings of unease and a lack of safety. Some praised the swift response of law enforcement, while others called for better preparation from the university itself. Students noted that much of their training on how to respond to an active shooter had come from their high schools and called for similar drills at the university level.

The shooting at UNLV is a tragic reminder of the ongoing issue of gun violence in the United States. Public figures, such as basketball player LeBron James, have spoken out about the need for stricter gun control measures in order to prevent future incidents..