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According to numerous media sources, the perpetrator responsible for the deadly mass shooting at UNLV, which claimed three lives and injured a fourth, has been identified as a former college professor. Reports indicate that the individual had previously applied for a position at the university, but was not hired.
According to sources in law enforcement, Anthony Polito, 67, was identified by ABC News, CNN, and NBC News on Thursday morning after the shooting, where he ultimately died. The police have not yet disclosed his name.
According to reports, Polito had previously attempted to secure a position as a college professor at UNLV before carrying out the violent attack.
Prior to his current position, he served as a faculty member at universities located in Georgia and North Carolina. He maintained a personal website where he boasted about his academic accomplishments and declared that he had successfully solved the mystery of the Zodiac Killer.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:45am on Wednesday morning when shots were fired at Beam Hall, which houses the Lee Business School at the college.
According to UNLV Police Chief Adam Garcia, the shooter initially began shooting on the fourth floor of the building and then proceeded to move through multiple other floors.
A notification regarding an “active shooter” was sent to students, staff, and faculty, causing panic on campus as individuals either ran to safety or took shelter in classrooms.
In the meantime, both on-duty and off-duty police officers hurried to the designated area.
According to authorities, two campus police officers came across Polito near Beam Hall carrying a gun. A gunfight ensued.
Polito was fatally shot during a gunfight.
The active shooter warning was ended and a signal to resume normal activities was announced approximately 40 minutes after initial reports of gunshots were received.
Authorities reported that three individuals were fatally injured in the assault, while a fourth sustained injuries and was transported to a medical facility. Currently, they are listed in critical but stable condition.
The Las Vegas police have not yet disclosed the names of the individuals who were affected.
According to sources, the individuals affected were employees or teachers, not students.
It is uncertain if the victims were targeted by the gunman or if there is a direct link between them and the shooting incident.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill stated in a press conference on Wednesday evening that multiple officers were treated for minor injuries caused by the chaos, and several other individuals experienced panic attacks.
The reason behind the attack is still unknown, as authorities are searching the suspect’s phone and documents for any potential clues.
According to ABC News, Las Vegas law enforcement was present at Polito’s residence in Henderson, Nevada on Wednesday evening. They were conducting a search.
On Polito’s LinkedIn page, which had been changed to a “remembrance” page in the aftermath of the shooting, he described himself as a semi-retired university professor living in Las Vegas.
The brief biography mentioned his appreciation for the “kind and positive comments” from students he had instructed throughout his career.
“The most valuable gifts and lessons I have gained from my extensive experience in higher education are the numerous kind and positive remarks that students have given about my teaching and attitude towards them,” the statement says.
Polito obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in management from The Terry College of Business at The University of Georgia, as stated on his personal website.
He obtained an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a degree in Mathematics and Statistics from Radford University.
The author states that he has resided in Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Virginia, and Wyoming.
Polito specifically mentioned Las Vegas as a location he greatly enjoyed visiting, which is also where he carried out the shooting on Wednesday.
“Hard to believe, looking back, but I had the pleasure of making more than two dozen trips to Vegas over the last fifteen years,” he wrote.
“I do not partake in gambling frequently, but there is an abundance of activities to engage in there, without a doubt! As time has passed, my sharp memory has accumulated more knowledge and fun facts about Las Vegas than most individuals in this state east of I-95 (at least)!”
In the section of the website titled “Theories on Different Mysteries & Puzzles”, he posted a 15-page article from 2014 in which he announced that he had solved the mystery of the notorious Zodiac Killer, who caused fear in Northern California during the late 1960s and teased authorities with coded messages.
Polito claimed to have solved the case and emphasized that he was not foolish or unintelligent. He attributed his success to his MENSA abilities.
“To avoid dismissing my solution as that of a crazy person, I want to mention that I have been a MENSA member for 35 years. I also have a double undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Statistics, which are skills commonly used by successful cryptographers. Additionally, I have obtained both a masters and a doctoral degree from prestigious universities. Therefore, I am not unintelligent.” He stated.
I want to clarify that I do not possess any specific skills or background in cryptography. My understanding of it is only general and basic, and I am not an expert or highly skilled mathematician or statistician.
In the question and answer section located at the end of the memo, Polito addresses potential inquiries related to his theory and proclaims himself as intelligent. However, he also expresses dissatisfaction with his current salary at work.
The question stated, “If you possess great intelligence, then you must also be financially wealthy.”
He responded, “No, but I am actively seeking a better paying job. I am capable of finding one, can you assist me?”
In addition to Polito’s other works discussing “Speculations on Different Enigmas & Riddles,” he also proposed a theory about the fate of the ill-fated MH370 flight.
According to this theory, it is believed that MH370 was a failed attempt at a radical terrorist hijacking. The goal of the hijackers was to use the plane to destroy the twin Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
The purpose of imitating the collapse of two tall buildings using planes taken over by terrorists was to prove to the world, in a way that could not be influenced by false information from governments or the media, that the threat of extreme terrorism was still present after 2001.
He also authored articles regarding the quest for intelligent life beyond Earth and his interpretation of the deeper significance of the film Inception starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
On other parts of the site, he discusses “Building a Computer with Dr. Polito” and “Dr. Polito’s Collection of 21 Cars!”
The reason behind Polito’s decision to commit Wednesday’s shooting is still unknown, but it has sparked memories of the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
The tragic event of the 2017 shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival resulted in the loss of 60 lives and occurred in close proximity to the college campus.
At a press briefing on Wednesday evening, Sheriff Kevin McMahill stated that authorities had gained insight from the previous attack, which aided in their swift response and neutralization of the shooter this time around.
On October 1st, the hard work and dedication we have all put into training with law enforcement, fire service, and EMS was evident. The sheriff expressed great pride in seeing how smoothly they all worked together on this day.
Source: the-independent.com