A tragic incident occurred at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where a graduate student has been charged with fatally shooting a professor. This incident adds to the alarming rise in gun violence across the country and has left the college community in shock. Authorities are currently investigating the motive behind the shooting.
The accused, Tailei Qi, is a 34-year-old student from China majoring in applied physical sciences. He appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit and relied on a Chinese translator. Qi has been charged with first-degree murder and possession of a gun on an educational property, which is expected to be upgraded to a felony. His public defender did not make any statements after the hearing, and a probable cause hearing has been scheduled for September 18. If convicted, Qi may face a life sentence without parole, as the district attorney has stated that they will not seek the death penalty.
The reason behind Qi targeting the victim, professor Zijie Yan, is still unknown. Aidan Carter Scott, a computer science major, revealed that Yan had been one of Qi’s advisors and had previous contact with the suspect. Scott described Qi as struggling to keep up with the course material but having good intentions and putting effort into staying on track.
Qi was arrested shortly after the shooting, which happened on campus at the Caudill Labs science building. The incident led to a lockdown, causing students and faculty to barricade themselves in classrooms and dorms until the shooter was apprehended. The lockdown continued even after the suspect’s arrest as authorities ensured the safety of the entire campus.
UNC Police Chief Brian James mentioned that investigators are still determining the relationship between Qi and Yan, as well as examining his social media accounts for any potential clues. Authorities will also be interviewing Qi to understand his motives. Qi’s LinkedIn profile reveals his enrollment at UNC in January 2022 as a graduate student and research assistant.
The recovery of the firearm used in the shooting is still ongoing. It is described as a 9 mm handgun. The university has decided to cancel classes the following day and honor the victim by ringing the bells in the campus’ Bell Tower.
UNC-Chapel Hill’s chancellor, Kevin Guskiewicz, expressed deep sadness over the tragedy and emphasized the need to improve safety procedures. He acknowledged that healing from this tragedy will take time.
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