Anthony Polito
The man suspected of fatally shooting three people and wounding another at UNLV was a career professor who unsuccessfully sought a job at the university, according to reports.
The suspect was identified by the Associated Press as 67-year-old Anthony Polito, who previously worked at East Carolina University in North Carolina. He was killed in a shootout with UNLV Police, authorities said.
Henderson Police and Metro Police searched Polito’s apartment on Arroyo Grande Boulevard about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, according to anonymous law enforcement sources.
Officials haven’t released a motive for the shooting or the type of weapon used.
The Clark County coroner today released the names of two of of the victims who died, both UNLV professors. Patricia Navarro Velez, 39, died of multiple gunshot wounds, the coroner said. Cha Jan Chang, 64, died of a gunshot wound to the head, the coroner said.
A third person who died, also a faculty member, has not been publicly identified, pending notification of family members.
A fourth faculty member was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where they were in stable condition, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill said.
Another four people were taken to University Medical Center after suffering panic attacks, McMahill said.
The gunman opened fire about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday on the fourth floor of the Lee Business School, authorities said.
McMahill said the prompt response by UNLV Police in engaging the suspect prevented an even larger tragedy with more victims.
“If it hadn’t been for the heroic actions of one of those (campus) police officers who responded, there could have been countless additional lives taken,” he said. “Armed confrontation of the suspect by law enforcement stopped the suspect’s further actions.”
Polito’s personal website lists courses he previously taught and has a link to his resume. He instructed 181 sections in business education and 5,863 students at three large public universities, according to his online resume.
His LinkedIn page says he spent 15 years teaching at East Carolina.
Polito seemed to be liked by students at East Carolina, according to reviews on the website Rate My Professor.
Polito labeled himself as semi-retired on LinkedIn, where his timeline says he taught at East Carolina through 2017.
In one website post about his “instructional philosophy,” he said “there is political turf-fighting, ignoble actions, pettiness, insularity,” at universities.
“Sometimes intellectual ideas are borrowed, even though we would decry that behavior in students,” he said. “Though the halls are not perfect, academics must strive to make them so as best they can. That is because one of the greatest responsibilities we hold is that we should strive to model to students the highest citizenry possible.
“This so that students can see & understand it, this so students can appreciate the value of it, this so students can aspire to practice it as best they can, throughout the balance of their lives. These halls are best reserved, not for those short in moral character, but for those who intend to mold it.”
Polito shared on his website a 15-page paper saying he had uncovered the identity of the Zodiac serial killer, who has gone unidentified for decades.
Zodiac, so called because of taunting letters he sent to newspapers with coded messages, has been blamed for at least five killings in Northern California in the late 1960s.
Polito’s theory about the Zodiac Killer is part of his website titled “Theories Regarding Various Mysteries & Puzzles.” He also wrote a piece called “What Really Happened To Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370,” a 2014 flight that vanished.