Graduate student accused of murdering UNC faculty member.
UNC Graduate Student Charged with First-Degree Murder in Fatal Shooting
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—In a shocking turn of events, a University of North Carolina graduate student has been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of a faculty member. The incident caused a campus-wide lockdown as authorities searched for the gunman.
The suspect, Tailei Qi, 34, is scheduled to appear in court later today for an initial hearing. He is accused of killing Zijie Yan inside a science building on the Chapel Hill campus. Qi is also facing charges of possessing a gun on educational property.
Zijie Yan, an associate professor in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences, was tragically killed in the incident. Tailei Qi, listed as a graduate student in Mr. Yan’s research group, is now facing serious legal consequences.
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The arrest of Tailei Qi took place during a tense three-hour lockdown following the shooting. UNC Police Chief Brian James expressed relief at having the suspect in custody, as it provides an opportunity to uncover the motive behind the crime.
The incident unfolded when campus police received a 911 call reporting shots fired at Caudill Labs. Within minutes, an emergency alert was issued, and the campus went into lockdown. Students and faculty sought refuge in dorm rooms, bathrooms, classrooms, and other school facilities.
Officers responding to the scene discovered the fatally shot faculty member. With the help of witness information, the police apprehended the suspect in a residential neighborhood near campus.
The lockdown was eventually lifted, and no additional injuries were reported. However, the tragedy has left the campus community shaken.
Zijie Yan, a highly respected researcher, led the Yan Research Group, which Tailei Qi joined last year. Yan had an impressive academic background, having earned his PhD in materials engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and previously worked as an assistant professor at Clarkson University.
Tailei Qi, originally from China, is a graduate student in the department of applied physical sciences. His research focuses on nanoparticle synthesis and light-matter interaction. He moved to the U.S. after completing his bachelor’s degree in physics at Wuhan University.
The shooting has instilled fear within the university community, coming just a week after students returned for the fall semester. Clayton Ulm, a graduate student, described the panic and confusion that ensued as students were instructed to go into lockdown.
As the investigation continues, the UNC campus is left grappling with the devastating loss and the need to ensure the safety and trust that are integral to their community.
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