Las Vegas, Nevada – New footage has been released of a fatal shooting incident that took place in December at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The video shows a campus police officer engaged in a shootout with a gunman, ultimately putting an end to the deadly rampage. Among the 20 hours of video and audio files released, the footage captured Las Vegas police officers assisting a severely injured professor who emerged from the UNLV business school building and collapsed on the sidewalk. Although the wounded professor survived, three faculty members tragically lost their lives before the gunman was neutralized. Authorities later identified the assailant as a 67-year-old former business professor from North Carolina who had been rejected in his attempts to teach at UNLV.
The gunman, identified as Anthony Polito, armed himself with loaded handgun magazines concealed in his waistband before carrying out the attack on December 8, 2023. Polito, who had over 150 rounds of ammunition and a list of targets, did not target individuals specified on that list. Following a fatal shootout with law enforcement, Polito lost his life after opening fire inside the business school building, where a visiting professor remains hospitalized in critical condition. Investigations revealed that Polito had faced financial difficulties and previously taught at Roseman University in Henderson before being let go due to program cancellations.
Upon further updates, law enforcement indicated that the shooting at UNLV, which claimed three lives and critically wounded one, did not seem to be aimed at students. The gunman, Anthony Polito, reportedly had a grievance against the university after his unsuccessful attempts to secure a teaching position. The location of the attack, within close proximity to the Las Vegas Strip where a mass shooting occurred in 2017, raised concerns about security measures and response tactics.
During the tragic incident, students and professors sought refuge amidst chaos as the attacker roamed the university building, resulting in multiple casualties. The prompt and coordinated response by authorities, drawing from lessons learned from previous tragedies, minimized further harm to the campus community. Although details of the victims, the attacker, and the motive remained undisclosed, witnesses recounted moments of fear and uncertainty as the situation unfolded.
Following the harrowing experience, survivors shared their accounts of seeking safety and coming to terms with the unexpected violence that shook the university campus. Through collective efforts and swift action, law enforcement agencies managed to contain the situation and prevent additional casualties. The impact of such tragic events on students and faculty underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and preparedness within educational institutions to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals on campus.