Last week’s tragic shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), has revealed that the perpetrator, Anthony Polito, had resigned from a previous teaching position despite having tenure. The incident that led to his resignation involved a sexual comment directed at a female student, Kristin Marshburn, during a business course at East Carolina University in 2016.
Marshburn, now 28, recounted that Polito made a highly inappropriate comment about her appearance, stating that if she continued wearing a low-cut shirt for the semester, she would secure an A grade. The incident shocked Marshburn and others in the class, prompting her to report it to the business school’s dean on the same day. In January 2017, Polito resigned from his tenured associate professor position at East Carolina University, where he had been employed since 2001.
The circumstances surrounding Polito’s resignation remain unclear, and requests for comment from ECU were directed to submit a public records request. Polito, in previously posted online writings, blamed the university’s leadership for his career downfall and reputation damage.
Polito, 67, who had applied for a teaching position at UNLV in 2020 but was not hired, carried out the fatal shooting on December 6, targeting three faculty members. Authorities revealed that he had a “target list” containing names from both UNLV and ECU. Polito also wounded a visiting professor during the attack. Although Polito had applied for multiple jobs in the Nevada higher education system, financial struggles and job rejections seemed to contribute to his desperate situation.
Kristin Marshburn is the second woman to come forward, stating that Polito made her feel uncomfortable during her time as his student. Another woman, who chose to remain anonymous, shared a similar experience of being pursued by Polito, who contacted her incessantly and bought her gifts. She felt preyed upon but did not report him due to his respected status on campus.
Former students of Polito described him as eccentric but popular, with a penchant for discussing his experiences in Las Vegas. Polito’s behavior, characterized by narcissism and a desire for intellectual admiration, raised concerns among some students. His online presence, where he referred to himself as “Dr. 160IQ” and boasted about Mensa membership, hinted at a self-absorbed persona.
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In response to the incident, Marshburn commended ECU’s administration for its handling of her complaint, emphasizing the importance of speaking out against mistreatment by those in positions of power. She encourages others to come forward and highlights that it is unacceptable for professors or anyone else to make inappropriate comments based on appearance.