Current:Home > reviewsUNC-Chapel Hill faculty member killed, suspect in custody after campus lockdown -Wealth Momentum Network
UNC-Chapel Hill faculty member killed, suspect in custody after campus lockdown
View
Date:2025-04-17 17:11:10
A University of North Carolina faculty member was killed Monday afternoon after a suspect opened fire on the Chapel Hill campus, prompting a lockdown for three hours, the school and police said.
The shelter-in-place alert went out around 1:02 p.m., following reports of shots fired around Caudill Laboratories, police said.
Tailei Qi was arrested after a brief search and charged with first-degree murder and misdemeanor possession of a gun on an educational property, police said.
Qi, a graduate student, was arrested around 2:38 p.m. and police gave the all-clear and ended the lockdown around 4:14 p.m., police said. They advised people to avoid Caudill Labs indefinitely as it was still being searched for evidence by investigators.
The police later identified the victim as Zijie Yan, an associate professor in the university's Department of Applied Physical Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences.
MORE: More than 25,000 people killed in gun violence so far in 2023
Yan worked at the University since 2019, according to the police.
"I am devastated and saddened by today's shooting in one of our campus buildings, a place where we conduct our important work of teaching, mentoring and research every day," UNC chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz said during a press conference Monday evening. "Our hearts are with the family of our fellow faculty member, those who are personally connected to the victim and those traumatized by this senseless act of violence."
Classes and events have been canceled until Wednesday, the school said.
Qi was being held without bail, police said. Yan was listed as Qi's academic adviser on the suspect's profile on the UNC website.
UNC Police Chief Brian James said the weapon used in the shooting was not immediately recovered and the investigation was ongoing.
"We want to make sure we gather every piece of evidence to determine what happened and why it happened," he said during the press conference.
MORE: Suspect identified in racially motivated killing at Jacksonville Dollar General store: Sheriff
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper released a statement, saying he has pledged state resources to help in the investigation
"This is a tragic way to start a new semester and the state will provide any assistance necessary to support the UNC community," Cooper said.
Guskiewicz acknowledged the traumatic experience for students and faculty and encouraged them to seek out the school's resources to help recover from the incident.
"The community needs to come together," he said. "These events are sadly going on across the nation."
ABC News' Christopher Looft contributed to this report.
veryGood! (1266)
Related
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Two Georgia firefighters who disappeared were found dead in Tennessee; autopsy underway
- Full transcript of Face the Nation, June 30, 2024
- NHL reinstates Bowman, Quenneville after being banned for their role in Blackhawks assault scandal
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Kelly Ripa Gives Mark Consuelos' Dramatic Hair Transformation a Handsy Seal of Approval
- BET says ‘audio malfunction’ caused heavy censorship of Usher’s speech at the 2024 BET Awards
- 3 killed and 2 injured in shooting near University of Cincinnati campus, police say
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- Armed bicyclist killed in Iowa shooting that wounded 2 police officers, investigators say
Ranking
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- Mbappé and France into Euro 2024 quarterfinals after Muani’s late goal beats Belgium 1-0
- Hurricane Beryl maps show path and landfall forecast
- Full transcript of Face the Nation, June 30, 2024
- Charges tied to China weigh on GM in Q4, but profit and revenue top expectations
- Chinese woman facing charge of trying to smuggle turtles across Vermont lake to Canada
- A harmless asteroid will whiz past Earth Saturday. Here's how to spot it
- Pennsylvania man killed when fireworks explode in his garage
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Scuba diver dies during salvage operation on Crane Lake in northern Minnesota
Last Chance: Lands' End Summer Sale Ends in 24 Hours — Save 50% on Swim, Extra 60% Off Sale Styles & More
Restricted view seat at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour offers behind-the-scenes perk
Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
California to bake under 'pretty intense' heat wave this week
Sheriff suspends bid for US House seat once held by ex-Speaker McCarthy
Family of 13-year-old killed in shooting by police in Utica, New York, demands accountability