In a shocking turn of events, Anthony Polito, a former business professor, carried out a mass shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), leaving three faculty members dead and a visiting professor critically injured. Polito's former students claim that his classes were memorable for all the wrong reasons, with his obsession with Las Vegas and his desperate search for employment in the city becoming his defining traits.

Polito, 67, had a deep love for Las Vegas, which he would often share with his students at East Carolina University. His computer screen always displayed a Las Vegas-themed backdrop, and he would excitedly talk about his upcoming bookings at luxurious hotels like The Wynn. Some students recall entire class periods being dedicated to his weekend excursions, showcasing slideshows of his experiences in Las Vegas.

However, Polito's transition from tourist to permanent resident of Sin City was not smooth. Upon moving from North Carolina to Las Vegas, he struggled to find a job and faced the risk of losing his home in the city's suburbs. Law enforcement reported that several Nevada schools, including UNLV, had rejected him for a job, which fueled his frustration.

On the fateful day of the shooting, Polito walked onto the UNLV campus armed with a 9mm handgun, targeting faculty members. He fatally shot three individuals, identified as Cha-Jan "Jerry" Chang, Patricia Navarro-Velez, and Naoko Takemaru, while critically injuring a visiting professor. Law enforcement discovered that Polito had maintained a list of targets from both UNLV and East Carolina University staff.

As investigators delve into the motives behind this tragedy, Polito's former students express their shock and disbelief. They recall the charismatic professor who passionately taught his subjects, never suspecting him capable of such violence.

Polito had left East Carolina University in 2017 after a long tenure, describing himself as a "semi-retired" professor on his personal website. He claimed to have made numerous trips to Las Vegas, collecting vast knowledge and trivia about the city. After moving to Las Vegas, he resided in an apartment complex in Henderson, far from the vibrant Strip he adored. Neighbors characterized him as aloof and isolated, referring to him as the "mafia dude" due to his vanity plate that read "KAPEESH."

While former students remember Polito as someone who loved to talk and share his knowledge, his neighbors found him uninterested in casual conversation. Polito frequented the Village Pub, a local bar, where he would often spend Friday nights alone, contemplating his difficulties in finding employment.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed that Polito had applied numerous times for a job with Nevada schools and had been rejected each time, adding to his frustration. This repeated rejection likely hit Polito hard, as he had become deeply intertwined with the identity of Las Vegas.

The tragic events that unfolded at UNLV have left former students grappling with the stark contrast between the passionate professor they knew and the man behind the horrific act. As the investigation continues, questions remain about how someone so infatuated with Las Vegas could become the latest gunman to target its residents in a mass shooting.

The shooting serves as a grim reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence and the need for enhanced measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. As the UNLV community mourns the loss of three valued faculty members, their memories forever intertwined with the dark legacy of Anthony Polito.