“University Shooting at UNLV: Police Mistook Gunman for Bystander in Deadly Incident”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : LAS VEGAS (AP) — A shocking incident unfolded at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as police officers mistakenly identified the gunman as a bystander during a deadly shooting inside the business school. Body camera footage and police accounts reveal that the officers urged the actual shooter, Anthony Polito, to leave the building while they frantically searched for the suspect and victims.

The video footage, spanning over five hours, provides a glimpse of Polito in the building after he had opened fire on the upper floors of the business school. Dressed in a long black trench coat over a white shirt, Polito appeared calm as he moved through the first floor. Despite the swarm of officers in the vicinity, there was no indication that he was armed.

In a bid to protect those inside the building, the officers shouted at Polito, pointing towards an exit, while continuing along the walkway. Unbeknownst to them, Polito had already caused chaos within the business school, disrupting the lunchtime activities of students and staff. Fortunately, he eventually exited the building, brandishing his weapon, and engaged in a fatal shootout with university police officers. Thankfully, no one outside the building was harmed during the exchange of gunfire.

Clark County Undersheriff Andrew Walsh commented on the incident, stating that it was evident the officers were unaware they had encountered the actual gunman. Walsh explained, “They didn’t have a description of the shooter at the time, and they were aware that other police resources were present on the first floor.”

Sheriff Kevin McMahill previously mentioned that the university police officers had mistaken Polito for a professor. However, the body camera footage released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department did not capture the shootout. Instead, an earlier video showed Polito descending a set of stairs outside the business school, his long black coat swaying as he moved.

The footage also revealed a tense moment when one of the university police officers approached Polito from behind. However, when the gunman turned around, wielding his weapon, the officer quickly sought cover behind a patrol car. The motive behind Polito’s shooting spree remains unknown, but authorities have mentioned that he was facing financial difficulties and had been rejected for a teaching position at UNLV and other schools in Nevada. Polito had previously held a tenured post at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, where he taught business for over 15 years.

The three professors who tragically 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 accounting professor specializing in cybersecurity disclosures and data analytics. The wounded victim, a 38-year-old visiting professor, has not been publicly identified.

Authorities have assured the public that more body camera footage will be released in the coming weeks, shedding further light on the incident and its aftermath.

In conclusion, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, was rocked by a tragic shooting that saw police officers mistakenly identifying the gunman as a bystander. The release of body camera footage has offered a glimpse into the chaotic events that unfolded inside the business school. As investigations continue, the motive behind the shooting remains under scrutiny, while the community mourns the loss of three esteemed professors..