Killing of Zijie Yan
Part of school shootings in the United States
Dr. Zijie Yan
LocationCaudill Labs, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, U.S.
DateAugust 28, 2023 (2023-08-28)
about 1:02 p.m. (EDT)
Weapon9 mm handgun[1]
VictimZijie Yan
ChargesFirst-degree murder

On August 28, 2023, Zijie Yan, an associate professor at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, was shot and killed on campus. 34-year old Tailei Qi, one of his graduate students, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The shooting sent the university into lockdown for three hours.

Persons involved

Zijie Yan

Zijie Yan (Chinese: 严资杰; 1984 or 1985 – August 28, 2023) was from the city of Jingmen, Hubei Province in central China.[2] He received dual bachelor's degrees in materials and computer science in 2005 and a master's degree in physical electronics in 2007 from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, Hubei Province.[2][3][4] He completed his PhD at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2011.[2][4] While still learning English, he published 17 research articles during his time at Rensselaer.[2][5] As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Chicago from 2011 to 2015, he helped develop a new material called optical matter consisting of metal nanoparticles held together by light.[2][4][5] He was an assistant professor at Clarkson University from 2015 to 2019.[2][4]

Beginning in 2019, Yan was an associate professor in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, running a lab that conducted nanoparticle research with optical tweezers (lasers).[2][6][7] He lived in Apex, North Carolina, and had two young daughters.[5][8] Friends and colleagues described him as always warm and enthusiastic about his research.[2][9][10]

Suspect

Tailei Qi[11] born 1988 or 1989 and raised in a farming family in the small village of Dasha (Chinese: 大沙), Fengqiu County, Henan Province in northern China.[12][13] He received a bachelor's degree from Wuhan University in 2015 and a master's degree in materials science from Louisiana State University in 2021.[5][14] He joined Yan's research group at the University of North Carolina in January 2022, one of three PhD students in the group.[12][14] In late 2022, he wrote several cryptic social media posts expressing frustration with the atmosphere of his workplace.[5][15][16] Co-workers at North Carolina said he was quiet but friendly.[5][17]

Incident

On the afternoon of Monday August 28, 2023, a week into the fall semester at the University of North Carolina, the suspect drove to campus and went into the Caudill Labs chemistry building.[18] According to UNC Police chief Brian James, the suspect went straight to Yan and shot and killed him, then immediately left the building and walked off campus.[17][18] At 1:02 p.m., a 9-1-1 caller reported gunfire at Caudill Labs, identifying the suspect by name and describing his clothing and the direction he went.[18][19][20] The Alert Carolina warning system activated at 1:03 p.m., sounding sirens across campus and sending emails and text messages ordering people to shelter indoors.[18][21]

Some students locked or barricaded themselves in classrooms or closets, while teaching continued in some classes.[22][23] Rumors on social media inflated the number of reported shooters or victims.[23] While searching for the suspect, UNC Police briefly mistakenly detained another Asian man near the site of the shooting.[24][25] At 2:21 p.m., a 9-1-1 caller reported someone matching the suspect's police description in the woods near their house on Williams Circle, in a residential area about two miles (3 km) north of campus.[23] The Chapel Hill Police Department arrested the suspect on Williams Circle around 2:31–2:38 p.m.[18][23] Alert Carolina issued an "all clear" order at 4:15 p.m., after police spent some time searching unsuccessfully for the gun used in the shooting.[18][22][26]

On August 29, Qi was charged with two felonies, first-degree murder and possessing a weapon on school property, and held without bail at the Orange County Jail in Hillsborough.[12][18] On September 19, at a hearing in superior court at the Orange County Courthouse, the Qi's attorneys requested that he undergo a competency evaluation in the case and the suspect requested new attorneys to represent him. The judge set a new court date tentatively for November 14.[27] On November 27, he had been found unfit to continue to trial due to his untreated schizophrenia and that he would be admitted to Central Regional Hospital in Butner, North Carolina for psychological treatment.[28]

Aftermath

Memorial at the Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower

University classes were cancelled through Wednesday, August 30.[23] On the night of August 29, several first-year students organized a candlelit vigil outside of Carolina Union attended by hundreds of people.[29] Further remembrances took place on August 30.[30] The Morehead-Patterson Bell Tower rang in honor of Yan at 1:02 p.m., and hundreds of people gathered there to observe a moment of silence; flowers, letters, and other items were laid in memorial at the base of the bell tower.[18][31] The front page of the Daily Tar Heel student newspaper, depicting text messages sent and received by students during the lockdown, went viral on social media.[32][33] University chapters of March for Our Lives, Young Democrats, and Students Demand Action held a gun control rally at South Building.[33][34][35] In the evening, about 5,000 people attended a candlelit vigil at the Dean Smith Center, where chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and other faculty members spoke in Yan's memory.[8][31][36] North Carolina Asian-American groups held a vigil at the Cary Arts Center in Cary on September 6.[37][38]

The university entered into an unrelated lockdown two weeks later on September 13. Police arrested a former temporary worker for university housekeeping who had reportedly brandished a firearm toward a worker at the Alpine Bagel café in the student union building; there were no gunshots.[39][40][41]

References

  1. ↑ "Grand jury indicts UNC shooting suspect". WFMY. September 5, 2023. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rosenbluth, Teddy; Shaffer, Josh (August 31, 2023). "Dr. Zijie Yan, prolific, resilient and generous scientist, killed in UNC shooting". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on September 3, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Zijie Yan appointed assistant professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at Clarkson University". Watertown Daily Times. September 29, 2015. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Yan, Zijie | Applied Physical Sciences". aps.unc.edu. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Archived from the original on August 28, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Lovingood, Chris; Hagel, Jack; Talhelm, Matt (August 29, 2023). "UNC shooting victim remembered as accomplished researcher in cutting-edge field". WRAL. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  6. ↑ Lenharo, Mariana (August 23, 2023). "University mourns nanoscientist killed on UNC campus". Nature. 621 (7977): 18. Bibcode:2023Natur.621...18L. doi:10.1038/d41586-023-02724-0. PMID 37648830. S2CID 261394661. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Using 'optical tweezers' to advance nanomedicine". aps.unc.edu. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. July 23, 2023. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Moore, Mary Helen (August 30, 2023). "'We will never forget.' UNC comes together to mourn slain professor at candlelight vigil". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  9. ↑ Yam, Kimmy (August 30, 2023). "UNC shooting victim remembered as passionate colleague and father with a 'constant smile'". NBC News. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  10. ↑ McCormick, Natalie (September 5, 2023). "UNC professor Zijie Yan remembered as gentle mentor, loving father". The Daily Tar Heel. Archived from the original on September 12, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  11. ↑ Conklin, Audrey. "UNC-Chapel Hill shooting suspect Tailei Qi appears in court for first time". fox7austin. FOX News. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Levenson, Michael (August 29, 2023). "U.N.C. Graduate Student Is Charged in Fatal Shooting of Professor". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  13. ↑ Ding Rui (August 30, 2023). "Village Hero Story Turns to Tragedy as UNC Student Charged with Murder". Sixth Tone. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  14. 1 2 "People | Yan Research Group". yan.web.unc.edu. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Archived from the original on August 30, 2023.
  15. ↑ Sharp, Rachel (August 29, 2023). "He moaned about work, 'bullies' and his head of lab online. Then police say he shot dead a UNC faculty member". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  16. ↑ Killian, Joe (August 29, 2023). "Victim identified, suspect charged in fatal UNC-Chapel Hill shooting". NC Newsline. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Schoenbaum, Hannah; Robertson, Gary D.; Rankin, Sarah (August 29, 2023). "University of North Carolina graduate student left building right after killing adviser, police say". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hudson, Susan (August 29, 2023). "Latest updates: Campus grieves after shooting at Caudill Labs". unc.edu. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  19. ↑ Robertson, Gary D. (August 31, 2023). "Audio reveals 911 caller in University of North Carolina shooting immediately identified a suspect". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  20. ↑ Hammond, Colleen (August 31, 2023). "'We need immediate help.' 911 call details harrowing moments during UNC shooting". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  21. ↑ Bajpai, Avi; Rosenbluth, Teddy (August 31, 2023). "What we know about the shooting at UNC-Chapel Hill after arrest of suspect". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  22. 1 2 Levenson, Michael; Holpuch, Amanda (August 28, 2023). "U.N.C. Faculty Member Is Fatally Shot in Lab". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 Martin, Emmy; Rhodes, Lauren (August 29, 2023). "UNC's campus shooting: What we know so far". The Daily Tar Heel. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  24. ↑ Yam, Kimmy (August 30, 2023). "UNC police got the wrong Asian while searching for suspect, intensifying fears of racial profiling". NBC News. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  25. ↑ Tillman, Adrian; Baiocchi, Aisha (August 30, 2023). "Column: Poor crisis communication hurts us all – especially those at risk". The Daily Tar Heel (opinion). Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  26. ↑ Thomas, Aaron (August 29, 2023). "Weapon used in UNC shooting not recovered, authorities say". WRAL. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  27. ↑ "UNC murder suspect requests new attorneys, competency motion filed". ABC 11. September 20, 2023. Archived from the original on September 22, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  28. ↑ Schoenbaum, Hannah (November 28, 2023). "University of North Carolina shooting suspect found unfit for trial, sent to mental health facility". Associated Press. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  29. ↑ Marques, Lucy (August 30, 2023). "UNC first-years hold vigil day after campus shooting, hundreds of students attend". The Daily Tar Heel. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  30. ↑ McConnell, Brighton (August 31, 2023). "UNC's Community Grapples with Loss, Trauma from Monday's Shooting through Vigils and Rally". Chapelboro. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  31. 1 2 Hudson, Susan (August 31, 2023). "Vigil honors 'a life well lived'". unc.edu. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  32. ↑ Ortiz, Erik (August 30, 2023). "UNC's student newspaper responds to campus shooting with an emotional front page". NBC News. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  33. 1 2 Schoenbaum, Hannah (August 30, 2023). "University of North Carolina students rally for gun safety after fatal shooting of faculty member". Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  34. ↑ Mallinson, Sophie (August 30, 2023). "'Nauseating fear': UNC students rally for gun control after campus shooting". WUNC. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  35. ↑ Bajpai, Avi (August 31, 2023). "'We have to be that change': UNC students demand action after campus shooting". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  36. ↑ Livingston, Walter (August 31, 2023). "'Truly missed and forever remembered': UNC mourns Zijie Yan at candlelight vigil". The Daily Tar Heel. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  37. ↑ Bajpai, Avi (September 6, 2023). "Triangle's Asian American community gathers to remember professor killed in UNC shooting". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  38. ↑ Chapin, Josh (September 5, 2023). "'One life lost is too much': Asian Americans hold vigil to honor late UNC professor Dr. Zijie Yan". ABC 11. Archived from the original on September 20, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  39. ↑ Hudson, Susan (September 14, 2023). "Armed suspect causes second lockdown". University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Archived from the original on September 16, 2023. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  40. ↑ Dean, Korie; Hammond, Colleen; Grubb, Tammy; Sánchez-Guerra, Aaron (September 14, 2023). "UNC rattled by 2nd campus lockdown in 16 days. Suspect who 'brandished' gun arrested". The News & Observer. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  41. ↑ Javaid, Maham; Rosenzweig-Ziff, David (September 13, 2023). "UNC shooting scare opens 'collective wound' weeks after professor killed". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
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