University of Las Vegas gunman who shot four professors and killed three took Cialis before opening fire, cops reveal
The disgruntled professor who gunned down four teachers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, killing three of them, had apparently taken a powerful erectile dysfunction drug before going on his killing spree.
Anthony Polito, 67, opened fire on the fourth floor of the Lee Business School at 11:45 a.m. on Dec. 6, killing professors Patricia Navarro Valez, 39; Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, 64; and Naomo Takemoru, 69, and seriously wounding a fourth.
He subsequently died in a gunfight that brought police to the scene.
A subsequent autopsy report has since revealed that Polito had tadalafil – the scientific name for Cialis – in his bloodstream, reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
University of Nevada Las Vegas shooter Anthony Polito, 67, had oxycodone and erectile dysfunction drugs in his system when he was shot by police in December
Polito’s bloodstream tested positive for 84 nanograms per milliliter of Cialis
Polito’s blood tested positive for 84 nanograms per milliliter of the erectile dysfunction drug. According to the June 15 autopsy report, the drug can remain in the body for up to 36 hours.
He also tested positive for oxycodone, with 15 nanograms per milliliter in his bloodstream. That’s well below the U.S. Department of Transportation’s testing threshold of 100 nanograms per milliliter for urine tests.
According to Matthew Johnson, a Johns Hopkins University specialist who studies the psychological effects of drugs, Cialis or oxycodone are not known to increase risk-taking behavior in the same way that alcohol does, he told the Review-Journal.
He also noted that it is unclear whether Polito took the oxycodone shortly before his death, or whether he took a large amount in the past.
Polito turned to the university’s business school after reportedly feeling let down after being turned down for a job
The shooting prompted a large police presence on the Las Vegas campus
It is believed that Polito opened fire on the Las Vegas campus because he felt rejected after being turned down for a teaching position at the school.
According to his former students, he was obsessed with Sin City and had applied for several jobs at different colleges and universities in Nevada, but was repeatedly rejected.
According to police, Polito went to several floors of the business school on the day of the attack before he was killed during a shootout with two university officers outside the building.
The officers were later identified as Det. Nathaniel Drum, who has been with University Police Services since 2017, and Officer Damien Garcia, who has been with the force since 2018.
“These two officers are heroes,” said Adam Garcia, chief of police for the University Police Services Southern Command, after the incident.
“They prevented the worst from turning into a bloodbath.”
Naoko Takemaru, 69, an associate professor of Japanese studies, was killed in the shooting
Patricia Navarro-Velez, an assistant professor in the UNLV accounting department, and Jerry Changn (right) were also shot and killed by Polito
Polito’s body was later found in front of the Frank and Estella Beam Hall, with a legally purchased 9mm handgun and 11 loaded magazines in his luggage, and several bags containing nine more magazines.
According to the Review-Journal, he was already armed with 150 rounds of ammunition.
Investigators also found what appeared to be a target list: a laminated card with names and room numbers on it, the autopsy report said.
In the days following the shooting, authorities announced that they had contacted everyone on the list except one person who was on the plane.
“None of the individuals on the target list were victims,” said Sheriff Kevin McMahill.
As the carnage unfolded, the university warned students to ‘RUN-HIDE-FIGHT’
Students were seen evacuating the university when shots rang out in December
As the carnage unfolded, the university issued a warning to students, saying, “RUN-HIDE-FIGHT.”
A large police force, consisting of tactical teams, was immediately sent to the scene to search for the suspect as the school was placed on lockdown.
Less than an hour after the alert was issued, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced that the suspect had died. Footage showed terrified students being slowly led out of campus buildings.