In a tragic incident at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV), a former business professor, Anthony Polito, carried out a campus shooting, resulting in the deaths of three faculty members. The 67-year-old, who had previously sought employment in Nevada and other higher education institutions, targeted the Lee Business School, shooting four people across three floors in a matter of minutes.
Before the shooting, Polito visited a post office in Henderson, sending 22 letters with no return address to various university personnel nationwide. One of the letters, already retrieved, contained an unknown white powder undergoing testing. Polito’s violent spree concluded when he was fatally shot by police. He had brought a legally purchased 9mm handgun and 11 magazines of ammunition to the campus.
The victims have been identified as Patricia Navarro Velez, 39, an assistant professor in accounting since 2019, and Cha-Jan “Jerry” Chang, 64, an associate business professor with over two decades at UNLV. The third deceased victim’s name is withheld pending notification of next of kin, while the fourth victim remains hospitalized with a life-threatening condition.
The shooting unfolded on the fourth floor of Beam Hall, the business school’s location, just before noon. Despite the terrifying incident, officials noted that the toll could have been higher given the number of people in the building at the time. Students were not the intended targets, and the sheriff mentioned that Polito might have been heading towards the nearby student union as he exited the business school.
Polito, seemingly facing financial struggles, had an eviction notice on his apartment door. His LinkedIn page, which identified him as a “semiretired university professor,” showcased his three degrees, including a doctorate from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. He had previously worked at East Carolina University and had a background in operations and supply chain management.
Authorities confirmed that none of the individuals listed on Polito’s target list became victims. The gunman’s LinkedIn page was taken down, but a biosketch page, also posted online, detailed his doctorate concentration in operations management and his pre-academic career with companies like Volvo and Kellogg, Brown & Root.
UNLV responded to the tragedy by canceling classes and most activities through Sunday, emphasizing a continued strong police presence during the investigation. President Biden, scheduled for a visit to the city on Friday, is expected to address the shooting. The incident has sent shockwaves through the university community, prompting reflection on campus security and the mental health challenges faced by individuals within the higher education system.
