Accident – Death – Obituary News :

Police Mistook University Gunman for Bystander in Deadly Shooting

Police officers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, responding to a tragic shooting inside the business school, mistakenly identified the shooter as a bystander and urged him to evacuate the building. Body camera footage and police accounts reveal that the officers, in their frantic search for the suspect and victims, unknowingly encountered the gunman.

Shocking Mistake Revealed in Body Camera Footage

As the shooting unfolded on December 6, two Las Vegas police officers ascended the stairs to a second-floor walkway overlooking the ground floor of the business school. Their weapons drawn, they ventured into the premises where the horrific incident took place. The video footage, released to the public on Wednesday, provided the first glimpse of the shooter, later identified as Anthony Polito, inside the building after he had already opened fire on the upper floors of the business school.

Polito, wearing a long black trench coat over a white shirt, appeared calm as he moved through the first floor of the business school, while officers swarmed the building. Notably, there was no indication that he possessed a gun, as one of his hands was visible at his side. The officers, unaware of the shooter’s identity, shouted at Polito to evacuate, pointing towards an exit, before continuing their search along the walkway.

Students and Staff Unaware of the Danger

At the time of the shooting, students and staff were enjoying their lunch and engaging in recreational activities near the business school, which stands across from the university’s student union. The unsuspecting individuals remained unaware of the unfolding tragedy until the shooter’s rampage commenced.

Polito eventually exited the building, brandishing his weapon, and engaged in a shootout with university police officers. He was fatally wounded within a minute, and fortunately, no one outside the building was harmed during the exchange of gunfire.

Officers Unaware of the Gunman’s Identity

Clark County Undersheriff Andrew Walsh acknowledged that it is evident the officers were unaware they had encountered the gunman inside the building. He explained that, at the time, no description of the shooter was available, and the officers were aware of the presence of other police resources on the first floor.

Sheriff Kevin McMahill had previously stated that the university police officers mistook the gunman for a professor.

Motive for the Shooting Remains Unknown

Authorities have not yet determined a motive for the shooting. However, they revealed that Polito was facing financial difficulties and had been rejected for a teaching position at UNLV and other Nevada schools. Prior to the incident, he had resigned from his tenured post at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., where he had been teaching business for over 15 years.

Victims of the Tragedy

The three professors who lost their lives in the UNLV shooting were Naoko Takemaru, 69, an esteemed author and associate professor of Japanese studies; Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, 64, an associate professor in the business school’s Management, Entrepreneurship & Technology department; and Patricia Navarro Velez, 39, an accomplished accounting professor specializing in cybersecurity disclosures and data analytics.

One visiting professor, aged 38, was also wounded during the incident, but their identity has not been disclosed.

Release of Additional Body Camera Footage

Police authorities have announced their intention to release more body camera footage in the coming weeks, shedding further light on the tragic events that unfolded at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

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