Recent revelations shed new light on the tragic UNLV shooting in 2023 that left three professors dead. A fact-finding review held inside the Clark County Commission chambers unveiled that the gunman, 67-year-old Anthony Polito, had a malfunctioning firearm which potentially saved many lives, including that of a University Police Department detective. The report was disclosed during the review that took place yesterday, which was covered by 8 News Now.
Josh Tomsheck, serving as the ombudsman during the review, questioned Las Vegas Metro Police Department Det. Jason Leavitt about the incident. Tomsheck inquired about the operability of Polito's firearm, to which Leavitt affirmed the gun indeed jammed, preventing further tragedy. Despite being heavily armed and having "nine fully loaded magazines strapped to his waist," Polito was unable to inflict more harm when his weapon ceased working, giving detectives the crucial seconds to act, as Leavitt recounted in a statement obtained by 8 News Now.
University Police Department detectives Nathanial Drum and Damian Garcia were the officers who confronted Polito, engaging with him outside Beam Hall on the university campus. While Detective Drum initially mistook Polito for a witness, the situation escalated when Polito drew his firearm and opened fire. Drum skillfully dove behind cover, narrowly avoiding the shots before returning fire once Polito's gun jammed, as seen on metro body camera and UNLV surveillance footage.
In the aftermath, "UNLV Strong," a group formed to remember the victims and promote safety and mental health, continues to hold events and offer support, as reported by FOX5. Polito, who had previously applied to several positions at the university and within the Nevada System of Higher Education without success, seemed motivated by frustrations over perceived undervaluation of his abilities. Detailed in a Metro police report issued in February, authorities disclosed that Polito was ready to go at the time of his fatal shooting, an observation made by officers who found ammunition and index cards with faculty members' names. While the names of those killed were not listed, the implication was clear in that Polito had come with intentions of causing significant harm—intentions thwarted, luckily, by a jammed gun.
