UNC-Chapel Hill Shooting: Suspect in Campus Attack, Killing of Associate Professor, Identified
The UNC-Chapel Hill Shooting gunman is identified as a graduate student, and the victim was his faculty advisor. Eros Hoagland/Getty Images

Authorities have confirmed Monday that the UNC-Chapel Hill shooting gunman, who claimed the life of a faculty member, is a graduate student at the institution, per CNN.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, UNC police disclosed that the alleged shooter, Tailei Qi, faces charges of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm on educational premises.

During the court appearance on Tuesday, Qi opted not to enter a plea and was remanded without the option of bail.

The UNC-Chapel Hill shooting victim, Zijie Yan, has been identified as an associate professor in the Applied Physical Sciences department. With tenure at UNC spanning from 2019, Yan was well-established in his role.

UNC Police Chief Brian James revealed on Tuesday that there was an existing connection between the assailant and the victim.

Investigations unveiled that Qi, the accused UNC-Chapel Hill shooting gunman, was enrolled in the same academic department as Yan.

The UNC-Chapel Hill shooting victim also served as Qi's faculty advisor, as detailed on Qi's now-archived UNC biographical page, which is retrievable through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine, indicating that Qi commenced his academic journey at UNC in 2022.

His prior educational background encompassed Louisiana State University and Wuhan University studies.

UNC-Chapel Hill Shooting Gunman Enters Courtroom

Wearing an orange prison outfit and hands cuffed in front, Qi appeared in court on Tuesday.

He relied on an interpreter and was provided with a public defender for his preliminary hearing, AP reports.

Qi, hailing from China and holding a US visa, was the subject of District Attorney Jeff Nieman's disclosure.

The gun possession accusation revolves around a 9 mm handgun, with the weapon used in the shooting still outstanding, according to James' statement.

Should he be found guilty, Qi, the accused UNC-Chapel Hill shooting gunman, could receive a life sentence devoid of parole for the murder charge, accompanied by a potential two-year term for the weapons offense.

While North Carolina's highest punishment for first-degree murder is the death penalty, Nieman confirmed his office's stance against seeking capital punishment.

In a concise session, Orange County Superior Court Judge Sherri Murrell ordered the detention of 34-year-old Tailei Qi without granting bond, as an interpreter briefed Qi in Mandarin on the court proceedings.

Qi's next court appearance is scheduled for September 18.

Following the hearing, Dana Graves, the public defender representing Qi, left the courtroom without engaging with journalists.

Authorities have refrained from offering conjecture regarding the motives behind the assault.

UNC-Chapel Hill Shooting

The shooting happened during the second week of the fall semester when students were alerted to an armed and dangerous individual just after 1 PM, NBC News noted.

The university issued an additional notification at 2:24 PM, indicating that the assailant was still at large.

A photograph of an unidentified person was circulated, and subsequently, Qi was apprehended in a residential vicinity near the campus.

Social media disseminated videos depicting distressed students seeking shelter within classrooms and others resorting to climbing out of windows within a campus edifice.

The lockdown persisted until approximately 4:15 PM.

UNC Police Chief Brian James elaborated that the comprehensive lockdown encompassed nearby public schools, a measure that endured post-Qi's arrest.

The intent was to ensure campus-wide safety, as law enforcement agencies verified the suspect's identity and addressed potential indications of additional victims.

James abstained from confirming whether other individuals were in the room during the shooting.

Notably, responding officers did not cross paths with the alleged shooter upon arrival at the scene, suggesting a swift departure from the building on his part.

No further injuries have been reported in connection to the UNC-Chapel Hill shooting.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: UNC Student charged in killing denied bond - From Associated Press