Police Obtain Search Warrant For UNLV Suspect's Phone For Clues

Detectives have retrieved Anthony Polito's phone -- the suspect in the UNLV shooting -- and are examining it for clues.

A motive for the shooting, which left three dead and a fourth severely injured at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, is still under investigation, but police hope that Polito's cell phone will answer some questions.

Anthony Polito, who is now the main suspect in the tragic event, was killed in a shootout with police approximately 10 minutes after the UNLV shootings occurred.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department was granted a search warrant to continue investigating, per KNTV. So far, they have retrieved his cell phone, and are expected to investigate Polito's home.

The victims of the shooting were not students and were all identified as professors, which makes police believe that the shooting was not random and that the suspect could have targeted specific individuals when entering the University.

Three UNLV professors were killed in the shooting. A fourth victim, who has been identified as a 38-year-old visiting professor, is currently being hospitalized for life-threatening injuries.

It has also been confirmed that Polito unsuccessfully sought a job at the school.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill also confirmed in a media briefing that the 67-year-old suspect arrived at UNLV’s campus with 11 magazines in addition to nine loaded magazines. It is unclear at this time how many rounds were fired during the tragic event.

Polito was also in possession of a Taurus 9 mm handgun, which he purchased legally last year, police confirmed.

President Joe Biden privately met with students at the University of Nevada Las Vegas after the tragic shootings that occurred last week. “This is not normal, and we can never let it become normal,” the President stated. “I’m grateful to the law enforcement officers who risked their lives. We join people across the country praying for the families of those killed; whose hearts have been broken by yet another horrific gun violence.”

“Folks, we got to get smart. There have been over 600 mass shootings in America this year alone, plus daily acts of gun violence that don’t even make the national news. This is not normal, and we can never let it become normal,” Biden said, adding, “People have the right to feel safe — be safe.”

Days leading up to the tragic event, the 67-year-old suspect is reported to have published a 16-page document referencing the 22 letters that he sent “to various University personnel across the country.”

The headline of the document read “!!! CONTENT OF ENVELOPES !!!” and included what “appeared to be personal letters to educators across the country and the alleged shooter’s opinion on the current state of higher education,” per 8NewsNow.

“Polito appears to name 20 educators in the document — some of those named seem to be previous coworkers, while others appear to be from institutions that rejected Polito’s employment,” the news report continued.

The investigation of the shooting that occurred at the University of Nevada Las Vegas last week remains ongoing.