On Aug. 28, 2023, a man walked into a building at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, raised a gun and shot a faculty member. Professor Zijie Yan was killed.
A father of two, Yan was an associate professor in UNC’s department of applied physical sciences, where he focused on nanoscience technology. He was studying how it can be used to improve drug delivery to human cells.
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Tailei Qi, 34, one of Yan's graduate students, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and possession of a weapon on educational property.
An after-action report the shooting included multiple safety recommendations, among them clearer messaging from the university through its Alert Carolina system.
During an emergency or threat, after an initial warning, UNC will send updates through Alert Carolina using text, social media, email and app notifications.
In the case of a dangerous person, these messages will have information on how to stay safe from the threat, hide if you can't evacuate and fight if you have to.
An additional change recommended in the after-action report was a better connected camera system. Since the shooting, UNC added more security cameras and synced them to be viewed in real time in a central location.
A spokesperson for UNC said feedback from students and staff called for more frequent updates and details during an emergency. WRAL News spoke with Chancellor Lee Roberts, UNC's new leader, on student move-in day about safety steps that have been taken.
"Stay alert, pay attention to the safety briefings that everyone's gotten through orientation and on our website," Roberts said. "Hopefully it won't come in necessary, but better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it."
Another change coming to Alert Carolina messages will be the ability to send out communications and alerts in Spanish.
Accused UNC shooter deemed not mentally fit
In November 2023, Qi was deemed not mentally capable of standing trial, according to multiple psychiatric evaluations.
Two psychiatric evaluations, conducted in September 2023 and November 2023, concluded that Qi has severe mental illness, most likely schizophrenia or untreated psychosis.
Judge Alyson Grine said in part: "Qi demonstrated delusional thinking, experienced auditory hallucinations, engaged in self harm in the detention center, showed fragmented thought processes that impeded his communication ... his behavior was consistent with severe mental illness."
Qi pushed back, calling into question the mental health evaluation.
In September 2023, Qi also said he was having issues with his attorneys and expressed he was dissatisfied with the representation. He said the claims of him having mental health problems were a way to "bypass" that concern.
Qi is currently being held at a mental health facility at Butner Prison in Granville County.
The school was on lock down for hours while police searched for the shooter.
Students were seen jumping from windows during the lock down. The UNC-Chapel Hill student newspaper compiled some of the text messages that were sent during the lock down:
Are you safe?
Where are you?
Are you alone?
Guys, I'm so scared.
Photos of students in dark classrooms and library study areas were shared with friends, and students updated family members on their status through their smart phones.
"For the past 30 minutes we've been in a room under shelter," one student told WRAL News. "It's a very stressful time, and we're trying to stay together and just stay calm."
A 911 call from UNC details the harrowing moments following the fatal shooting.
"I know exactly who it is," the caller told the dispatcher.
Documents obtained through a search warrant offer insight into what led up to the shooting.
Court documents revealed that Qi had visited a shooting range on two occasions. According to court documents, Qi listed his emergency contact as "Zijie Yan," the professor who was killed in the shooting.
Court documents also revealed that Qi purchased two boxes of ammunition, Sig Sauer 9mm Luger hollow points, while at the range.
The bell tower on UNC's campus will chime at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday in honor of Yan.
"Recognizing Dr. Yan’s legacy is an important way that we can come together as a community to acknowledge the loss we feel and to support one another," Chancellor Roberts said. "We know that the anniversary of this event may be difficult for many."
For students, counseling sessions are available through Counseling and Psychological Services. For students who may need mental health services outside of business hours, please call the 24/7 Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) line: 919-966-3658.
For faculty and staff, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support is available online at guidanceresources.com. Log on with a username and password or register with Web ID: TARHEELS.
You may also call 877-314-5841 to make an appointment with a counselor. Support is free and confidential.
If you're having suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, call or text 988 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Veterans can press “1” after dialing 988 to connect directly to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline. For texts, veterans should continue to text the Veterans Crisis Lifeline short code: 838255.