On August 28, 2023, a shooting incident took place in a science lab office on the North Carolina campus of UNC-Chapel Hill, leading to a faculty member’s death.
Zijie Yan, an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill, was located on the floor of his office with numerous gunshot wounds. The autopsy report confirmed injuries to his head, face, neck, left arm, chest, and abdomen. Additional graze wounds were noted on his right upper arm, left hand, and left forearm. Investigators found nine shell casings in the vicinity.
The individual charged in relation to this event is Tailei Qi, a 34-year-old graduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill. It has been noted that Yan was previously Qi’s faculty adviser.
The UNC campus took immediate precautions following the incident, implementing a lockdown and warning of a possible threat. In the aftermath, students assembled on campus, highlighting the significance of gun safety measures and taking a moment to remember Yan.
In a subsequent communication, Chancellor Guskiewicz reached out to the campus community. His message acknowledged Yan’s standing within the community, describing him as a valued colleague and mentor.
While the district attorney has stated there will be no pursuit of the death penalty for Qi, the underlying reasons for the incident remain under investigation.
