Las Vegas, Nevada – Newly released video footage from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, reveals the harrowing moments of a deadly rampage that claimed the lives of three professors and left another critically injured last December. The video captures a campus police officer taking swift action to confront and ultimately stop the gunman outside a building on the campus.
The shooter, identified as 67-year-old former business professor Anthony Polito from North Carolina, had been rejected for teaching positions at UNLV. Armed with a legally purchased handgun and a target list of names, Polito unleashed a 10-minute terror spree that ended in tragedy. Despite none of the shooting victims being on his list, the violent incident sent shockwaves through the university community.
In response to public records requests, UNLV made public 20 hours of footage from campus security cameras and officer body cameras, as well as over an hour of 911 call recordings. The chilling sounds of gunfire that claimed three lives reverberated through the university campus, prompting a quick response from law enforcement.
University Vice President of Public Safety Adam Garcia expressed the difficulty of reliving the tragic events of that day while reviewing the recordings and videos. The urgency of the situation is evident in the 911 calls, with one father desperately seeking information about his daughter hiding in a classroom during the active shooter situation.
As campus security officers sprang into action and police descended on the scene, video footage captured the chaos and terror that unfolded that day. Images of the gunman calmly approaching the building in a black trench coat are haunting, juxtaposed with scenes of injured professors being aided by officers.
UNLV President Keith Whitfield provided an update on the condition of the visiting professor who was critically wounded in the attack, noting that the individual is steadily recovering and undergoing rehabilitation. The university community continues to grapple with the aftermath of the shooting, with a stark reminder of the proximity to the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history just miles away from campus.
Las Vegas police worked tirelessly to secure the area and ensure the safety of students and faculty members, ultimately determining that the gunman had acted alone. The release of the video and audio recordings sheds light on the bravery and dedication shown by law enforcement in the face of such a tragic event, underscoring the need for vigilance and preparedness in the face of violence on campus.