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Print by: Ally Henson
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—In pursuit of expert insights, we sought the perspective of Chris Grollneck, the nation’s leading expert for the Active Shooter Prevention Program.
“Something went wrong in the dynamics between the person that decided to use a gun to solve his grievance and the person who became a victim. Whatever that is, you know, we probably will never know the real story,” Grollneck said.
However, he was able to share insights into significant statistical patterns associated with the thoughts and motivations of shooters.
“How many people told you they were going to do something like perpetrate a crime before they did it? It’s like 75% when it comes to shootings. They’ve all got on social media and said they’re going to, this person’s no different. I did remember reading a couple of things from this shooting where he was upset and expressed some dissatisfaction and had this large grievance that everyone knew about,” Grollneck said.
In Twitter posts during the past year, Qi expressed frustration with his work, his graduate student colleagues and his “PI” or principal investigator, who was Yan.
“Just feel my privacy was insulted,” Qi wrote in a Twitter post on July 18, 2022. “When I work, I will think I was showing the boss I am working instead of interests, devaluing the meaning of my work. That’s so disgusting. Self-respect block (sic) me from working. Then it takes pains to convince myself what I do is just because I like.”
On Aug. 18, 2022, Qi again complained about his research colleagues, work environment and his PI.
“Just have a talk with my PI and get his promise. He should have more experience to handle with these girls and tattletales. Then, we can just get ourselves out of these stupid topic (sic). Let’s just focus our attention on nature. I won’t change anything if not necessary.”
(Photo courtesy ofThe Independent)
On Oct. 31, 2022, he again made vague posts about conflicts with his PI and other students.
“Both the group of people to say I am lazy and that to prove me working hard instead of telling me that they are trying to consume my privacy. I judge their motivation is only to tell my PI then control me by taletelling. But it’s weird when I talked about it with my PI, he said no people spoke to him about that. So it’s nothing but some voyeurism for these people?”
Qi’s account on Twitter (X) has since been suspended.
According to Grollneck, fewer than 25% of active shooters carry a diagnosed mental illness.
“However, if we look at all active shooters, you and I, the 3 of us could agree; anybody that would open fire on an innocent person is crazy. So, 100%.”
Two mental health evaluations, conducted in September and November, conclude Qi has severe mental illness, most likely schizophrenia or untreated psychosis. Qi has been found unfit for trial, Orange County Superior Court Judge Alyson Grine, ruled Monday, Nov. 27.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, when schizophrenia is active, symptoms can include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, trouble with thinking and lack of motivation.
Psychosis refers to a set of symptoms characterized by a loss of touch with reality due to a disruption in the way the brain processes information.
“Qi demonstrated delusional thinking, experienced auditory hallucinations, engaged in self-harm in the detention center, showed fragmented thought processes that impeded his communication,” Grine said.
