Victim killed in UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus shooting identified as Zijie Yan

Sources have indicated that an associate professor Zijie Yan has lost their life in the shooting incident.

Tailei Qi, a UNC doctoral student, was taken into custody.

Earlier today, at 1:02 p.m., UNC Police received reports of gunfire within Caudill Laboratories on our campus.

By around 2:30 p.m., the authorities successfully apprehended the suspect, who is now under custody.

Qi was captured near Williams Circle, located approximately two miles north of the campus, at approximately 2:40 p.m. Law enforcement officers surrounded him, and he was seen sitting on a road in front of a driveway while in handcuffs. He was later escorted to a waiting patrol car.

A notification of an “all clear” for the campus was issued at approximately 4:15 p.m., indicating that there is no longer a pressing danger.

UNC Police are in close collaboration with the Chapel Hill Police Department to collect information and maintain their comprehensive and proficient response.

The following statement was issued by Kevin M. Guskiewicz, the Chancellor.

I am grieved to report that one of our faculty members was killed in this shooting. We are waiting for confirmation that the next of kin has been contacted before we share more information.

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. This shooting damages the trust and safety that we so often take for granted on our campus. We will work to rebuild that trust and safety. 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.

In response, we have canceled classes and all campus events for the rest of the day on Monday, Aug. 28 and Tuesday, Aug. 29. The campus is moving to Condition 2 until midnight tomorrow.

Please know that support is available and these departments stand ready to help. Students, including graduate and professional students and postdocs, please contact the Dean of Students team or Counseling and Psychological Services. For urgent concerns, please call 919-966-3658, the emergency protocol line. Faculty and staff should reach out to the Employee Assistance Program. More information will be provided on additional counseling services and opportunities to grieve and process.

I am grateful to our Emergency Operations Center and UNC Police for effectively managing this situation and to our faculty, staff and students for their cooperation to ensure the safety of our campus community. I am praying for the victim, their family and every member of the Carolina community. We will send more details and information as soon as we are able.