In a disturbing event at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill on August 28, Associate Professor Zijie Yan of the Department of Applied Physical Sciences was killed following a campus shooting incident.
The calamity unraveled at approximately 1:02 pm within Caudill Laboratories, prompting an immediate protective response from students and staff. In less than two hours, the alleged shooter was detained, as confirmed by Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz in a subsequent press conference.
The accused, Tailei Qi, a 34-year-old doctoral scholar at UNC, was apprehended near Williams Circle, a location not too far from the university’s main campus. Qi’s educational background includes stints at Wuhan University in China and a master’s from Louisiana State University.
The relationship between Qi and the deceased Yan, who served as Qi’s faculty guide in a research group focused on nanoparticles, is still being investigated by UNC Police Chief Brian James. The firearm implicated in the incident remains missing.
Addressing the shaken campus community, Chancellor Guskiewicz emphasized the importance of restoring trust and security within UNC.
Subsequent to the incident, UNC’s administration rolled out advisories, urging individuals to remain safe indoors. By 4:15 pm, the situation was deemed stable. However, educational activities and other campus functions were put on hold for 48 hours.
Captured media visuals showed a heightened police vigilance and students cautiously exiting academic buildings. Footage also displayed the suspect being taken into custody.
Following a brief court appearance in Orange County Superior Court, Qi was denied bail, with a follow-up court date set for September 18.
UNC Chapel Hill, a premier academic institution, houses approximately 32,000 students, bolstered by a support system of over 13,000 staff and faculty.
