UNC Zijie Yan Wiki, Obituary Age, Ethnicity, Family and More

All About UNC Shooting Victim Zijie Yan 

Zijie Yan (age: 40, 1983 – August 28, 2023) was a University of North Carolina Assistant Professor killed by a Chinese student named Tailei Qi on August 28, 2023. Reportedly, Tailei shot Zijie at 1 in the morning during college hours.

Law enforcement authorities responded swiftly, apprehending the shooter after a three-hour pursuit. This ordeal forced those on campus to take refuge in classrooms and gym locker rooms to protect themselves from the gunfire.

A distressing video circulating online captured some students jumping from the second floor of the college building in a desperate attempt to escape the danger.

The lockdown was lifted at 4:15, allowing individuals inside the campus to emerge from their places of safety. Tailei, found in possession of a weapon, is currently in police custody. Investigators are diligently working to uncover the motive behind this tragic murder and determine whether the firearm was acquired legally.

Zijie Yan, the professor who met an untimely end in this heartbreaking incident, was known for his exceptional talents. Yan was a valuable member of society, and it is a profound loss that Qi’s senseless act of violence prematurely ended his life.

Why Did Tailei Qi Kill Zijie Yan?

On August 28, 2023, an unfortunate incident occurred wherein Tailei Qi fatally shot his instructor, Zijie Yan. Emergency sirens were activated in response, and the authorities were promptly notified via the 911 emergency line.

Law enforcement personnel were dispatched, and during this time, students and faculty members took precautions by securing themselves within classrooms, dormitories, and offices. Upon their arrival at the university premises, law enforcement officers thoroughly searched the campus in pursuit of the suspect.

However, identifying Qi as the perpetrator extended beyond 3 hours. Throughout this duration, students on campus endeavored to maintain a safe distance from windows and doors, seeking to minimize exposure to potential gunfire.

Concurrently, the university’s security apparatus alerted those on campus, advising them to remain sheltered. Following the apprehension of Tailei, the authorities exercised caution by upholding the lockdown for approximately 90 additional minutes, ensuring the correct individual was in custody before resuming normal operations.

This incident has once again sent shockwaves through society, prompting inquiries into how a student infiltrated the campus while carrying a firearm.

Zijie Yan Education and Background

In 1983, Zijie Yan (40) was born in China. According to the source, Yan was gifted; he was extremely intelligent and aimed to contribute as much as possible to science.

His brilliance was evident when he was a child. During school days, he scored well in all subjects but had a special for science and mathematics.

According to records, Yan completed schooling in 2001, after which he graduated from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2005 with a double bachelor’s degree in materials science and engineering and computer science and a master’s degree in physical electronics two years later.

Time in America

According to sources, Zijie Yan came to the United States in 2007; he was very excited about the opportunities he was anticipating in the foreign land, but at the same time, he was a bit nervous, too.

After coming to the United States, Zijie joined Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Rochester as a Ph.D. candidate.

Four years later, in 2011, he earned his Ph.D. in materials engineering. He then went to the University of Chicago as a postdoctoral fellow for four years.

In 2015, he was offered a teaching position at Clarkson University as an assistant professor. In 2019, Dr. Yan transferred to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an associate professor.

Zijie Yan FAQs

Ques: How old was Zijie Yan?

Ans: 40.

Ques: Who died in the University of North Carolina shooting?

Ans: Zijie Yan.

Ques: Who killed Zijie Yan?

Ans: Tailei Qi.

Ques: Was Zijie Yan Chinese?

Ans: Yes.