LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Las Vegas Metro police began releasing body-camera videos on Wednesday, providing chilling footage of the officers responding to a mass shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). The tragic incident, which occurred on December 6, claimed the lives of three professors and left another injured.

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Victims Identified

The victims have been identified as Professor Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, 64, of Henderson; Associate Professor Naoko Takemaru, 69, of Las Vegas; and Assistant Professor Patricia Navarro Velez, 39, also from Las Vegas.

The released body-camera footage captures the heroic actions of the UNLV officers, who engaged the shooter, Anthony “Tony” Polito, 67, and ultimately took him down. Another professor was also injured but survived the attack.

Shooter’s Identity and Motive

Anthony Polito, a long-time professor who had been denied a job at UNLV, was living in a Henderson apartment. In a 15-page thesis discovered after the shooting, Polito claimed to have decoded 18 characters that he believed identified him as the infamous Zodiac Killer. The Zodiac Killer, known for using a code of symbols to communicate with the police, had never been apprehended.

Polito’s online presence portrayed him as an accomplished scholar, boasting an MBA from Duke University and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

Motive and Investigation

LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed that Polito had been facing financial difficulties, with an eviction notice found on his apartment door. In addition, Polito had compiled a list of individuals to target on campus. Authorities also intercepted 22 letters sent by Polito to university personnel across the country, one of which contained an unknown white powder substance.

Following multiple public records requests, including one from 8 News Now, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department released the body-camera videos with redactions and blurred faces. Further videos related to the incident are expected to be released in the coming days.