Las Vegas, Nevada – Newly released video footage from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas reveals the harrowing events of a deadly rampage that took place last December. The video captured a campus police officer taking cover behind a patrol car to evade gunfire before ultimately fatally shooting the gunman outside a building on campus. The incident left three professors dead and another severely injured.
The gunman, identified as Anthony Polito, a 67-year-old former business professor from North Carolina, had his applications to teach at UNLV rejected. Armed with a legally purchased 9mm handgun and carrying nine bullet magazines, he had a list of target names, although none of the victims were on that list. The footage showcases the violence that unfolded in just 10 minutes before the campus police officer intervened.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, released over 20 hours of security footage and officer body camera recordings, along with more than an hour of 911 calls made during the tragic event. The recordings captured sounds of gunfire that claimed the lives of three individuals in the upper floors of the business school, prompting chaos and panic among students and staff.
Campus surveillance footage shows a swift response from law enforcement, with a campus police officer arriving at the scene within 78 seconds of the shooting. The university’s Vice President of Public Safety, Adam Garcia, expressed the difficulty of reliving the tragic events through the released material, acknowledging the impact it had on the community.
The newly released video also depicts campus security officers and Las Vegas police responding to the situation. Additional footage shows the gunman arriving at the business school building, as well as officers assisting a wounded professor who managed to exit the building before collapsing. The injured professor, a visiting faculty member, is reported to be undergoing rehabilitation and recovering from the incident.
The shooting spree near the Student Union on campus sent shockwaves through the community and served as a stark reminder of the lasting impact of such incidents. The authorities, through the released recordings, aimed to shed light on the events that transpired and the swift response from law enforcement to ensure the safety of students and faculty.
This tragic incident, occurring just miles away from the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history in 2017, serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing threat of gun violence in the country. As investigations continue and the community heals, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, remains steadfast in its commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for its students and staff.