UNLV shooting fixation : Former Business Professor Anthony Polito Identified as Gunman in University Shooting

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Former students of Anthony Polito, the former business professor who carried out a mass shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), have spoken out about their experiences in his classes. They recall Polito’s obsession with Las Vegas, his constant reminders to leave positive reviews on ratemyprofessors.com, and his distinctive style of teaching. Polito often wore a suit and cufflinks, and was the only professor who smoked an e-cigarette, once blowing the vapor on a student. He would frequently talk about his upcoming trips to luxury hotels in Las Vegas and dedicate entire classes to his experiences in the city.

However, Polito struggled to transition from being an eager tourist to becoming a permanent resident of Las Vegas. Law enforcement reports indicate that after moving to the city, he had difficulty finding employment and was at risk of losing his home in the suburbs. On the day of the shooting, Polito walked onto the UNLV campus with a 9mm handgun and fatally shot three faculty members, as well as injuring a visiting professor. Law enforcement also discovered that Polito had maintained a list of targets from both UNLV and East Carolina University, where he had previously taught.

Neighbors of Polito in Las Vegas described him as standing out in their apartment complex. He appeared agitated and paced around the parking lot while smoking a cigarette on the morning of the shooting. Former students were shocked to see their former professor’s face in news reports, but not surprised to learn that he had moved to Las Vegas after leaving East Carolina University. Polito’s LinkedIn page indicates that he left the university in 2017 and described himself as a “semi-retired” professor with a deep knowledge and love for Las Vegas.

Upon arriving in Las Vegas, Polito moved to an apartment complex in Henderson, far from the glamorous Strip that he had always talked about. Neighbors found him isolated and aloof, referring to him as the “hermit-like guy” with a briefcase and a vanity plate that read “KAPEESH.” Polito would often spend his Friday nights alone at a local bar, where he would express frustration about his difficulty finding a job in Las Vegas. He had applied multiple times for positions at Nevada schools but was rejected each time.

Former students believe that the repeated rejections and the loss of his beloved city may have been particularly bitter for Polito, who had always tied so much of his identity to Las Vegas. They remember him as a passionate and approachable professor, and are struggling to reconcile the image of their former teacher with the mass shooter he became..