Police on Thursday said UNLV gunman Anthony Polito sent 22 letters to universities across the country prior to his Wednesday attack, and at least one contained an “unknown white powder substance.”
Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill spoke during a press conference in which he discussed Polito’s background and other details of the tragic event that killed three faculty members and critically wounded another.
According to McMahill, the 67-year-old shooter armed himself with a 9mm handgun and 11 magazines. While it’s unknown exactly how many rounds Polito fired, nine loaded magazines were found on him after the shooting. The gun had been legally purchased in 2022.
Investigators believe Polito, a semi-retired college professor, had been struggling financially. He reportedly applied for jobs at multiple higher education institutions in Nevada, but was rejected each time.
In the lead-up to the shooting, Polito allegedly went to a post office and sent 22 letters to universities around the country. In one of the letters that was intercepted, detectives found a mysterious white powder substance.
Las Vegas police said all of the intended recipients of the 22 letters had been contacted, adding that anyone else “in the world of academia who receives a letter with no return address is asked to use caution and contact law enforcement.”
Police also discovered what they believe to be a “last will and testament-style document” in Polito’s apartment.
When asked if Polito had further plans for violence, McMahill explained that the gunman may have been headed to the student union, after beginning his shooting spree at the university’s business school. However, more information needs to be investigated.
In the meantime, university police are working with local partners to provide additional security measures for their campus and other nearby schools like Nevada State University.
Evan Rosen
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