Las Vegas police said a suspect is dead after killing three people at UNLV.
A 67-year-old professor opened fire on the UNLV campus, killing three people before he was fatally shot by officers.
The sheriff says a quick response by officers to engage and kill the suspect likely prevented more deaths
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Three people were killed when a gunman opened fire on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus Wednesday, and the suspected shooter was then killed by officers, authorities said.
One additional gunshot victim was initially listed in critical condition at a local hospital and later upgraded to stable, police said.
Authorities said there is « no further threat » to the university, which has been closed for the rest of the day.
Authorities did not publicly release the name of the shooter. But multiple law enforcement sources the deceased suspect is Anthony Polito, 67.
Polito had applied for a professor position at UNLV but was not hired, those sources told ABC. He had previously worked as a professor in North Carolina and Georgia.
Investigators were searching an apartment in Henderson, Nev. that was believed to be the shooter’s home. Detectives have also obtained his phone and are searching for clues as to a motive for the attack.
Sources indicate the victims who were killed were faculty or staff members. It’s still not clear if they were intentionally targeted but the fact that the victims were not students suggests to detectives it may not have been entirely random.
« Our hearts go out to the entire UNLV community, » said Sheriff Kevin McMahill with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. « No student should have to fear pursuing their dreams on a college campus. What happened today is a heinous, unforgivable crime. »
In addition to those struck by gunfire, the sheriff said four others were transported to local hospitals after suffering panic attacks and two officers incurred minor injuries during the search of campus.
