“UNLV Shooting: Newly Released Footage Shows Cops Mistook Gunman for Bystander in Deadly Attack”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Cops Mistake Gunman for Bystander in Deadly UNLV Shooting, Newly Released Body Camera Footage Reveals

Las Vegas, NV – In a shocking turn of events, newly released body camera footage shows that cops responding to the deadly shooting at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) mistakenly mistook the gunman for a bystander, telling him to ‘get out’. The footage, which spans over five hours, captures the intense moments when two officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) climbed stairs inside the school during the December 6 shooting.

The shooter, identified as 67-year-old Anthony Polito, is briefly seen in the footage wearing a long black trench coat over a white shirt as he calmly moves through the first floor of the business school. One of his hands is visible at his side, adding to the chilling nature of the scene. Meanwhile, the officers, with their weapons drawn, can be heard shouting at Polito to ‘get out’ while pointing towards an exit. Unbeknownst to them, they had actually encountered the gunman inside the building.

Tragically, Polito opened fire inside the school, taking the lives of three professors, Jan Chang, Patricia Velez, and Naoko Takemaru. His motive for the shooting was later revealed to be his anger over a job application rejection at the university.

Clark County Undersheriff Andrew Walsh addressed the incident, stating that the two officers were unaware that they had encountered the actual shooter inside the building. “They didn’t have a description of the shooter at the time, and they knew that there were other police resources on the first floor,” Walsh explained.

Approximately one minute after the interaction with the officers, Polito exited the building, only to engage in a shootout with authorities after drawing his weapon. The gunman was subsequently killed in the exchange of gunfire.

Additional footage from the body cameras showcases the immediate response of officers swarming the campus shortly after Polito began his rampage. The officers are seen combing through stairwells and hallways, desperately searching for the shooter. While cautiously navigating the premises, one officer can be heard advising his colleagues to be careful and not rush the situation. He emphasizes the need to watch the doors as the shooter is still active.

Another officer reports that Polito has been neutralized, but the search continues. “I have bodies in here, like a lot. Every f***ing floor,” one officer grimly states, highlighting the devastating impact of the shooting.

As authorities delve deeper into the investigation, they have yet to identify a specific motive for the shooting. However, it has been revealed that Polito was rejected from a teaching job at UNLV and other Nevada schools. His previous tenure at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, ended in 2017 after teaching business for over 15 years.

UNLV President Keith Whitfield expressed his grief over the tragic incident, describing it as “the most difficult day in the history of our university.” He extended his heartfelt condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of Dr. Navarro and Dr. Chang.

Dr. Navarro-Velez, an assistant professor at the UNLV accounting department, was a mother of four. Her former professor at the University of Puerto Rico, David Correa, spoke fondly of her, telling the Las Vegas Review Journal about her dedication to her studies. Meanwhile, Dr. Chang, a business professor with over 20 years of experience at UNLV, was a highly respected educator specializing in management information systems. Lastly, Dr. Takemaru, an Associate Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Nevada, taught various levels of the Japanese language.

Prior to the shooting, Polito had sent 22 letters to university faculty members across the United States. Law enforcement intercepted some of the letters, with the first one opened revealing an unknown white powder substance. Following the shooting, investigators searched an apartment in nearby Henderson, Nevada, where they found several electronic devices, including Polito’s cellphone, as well as a document resembling a “last will and testament.”

The UNLV community continues to mourn the loss of these esteemed professors, as authorities work tirelessly to unravel the motives behind this tragic event. As more details emerge, the hope is that lessons can be learned to prevent such senseless acts of violence in the future.

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