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Broadcast by: Steven Schlink
Print by: Ally Henson
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—12:58 p.m.: “Close the doors! Close the doors and stay inside! There’s an active shooter,” a caller from Caudill Labs, shouted to others in the building on Aug. 28, during a 911 call that triggered a manhunt for the gunman and prompted UNC-Chapel Hill students to shelter in place for three hours.
Moments earlier, Zijie Yan, a professor in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences, had been shot seven times and died.
“I know exactly who it is,” the caller said. “He went into Kenan; I know who the student is. His name is Tailei, T-A-I-L-E-I Qi Q-I, and he has a gun and he’s on campus.”
The caller said police could find an image of the accused on the Department of Applied Physical Sciences website.
(Image courtesy of Tailei Qi’s Linkedin)
Yan worked with Qi, and they had previously co-authored research papers. Qi was a Ph.D. student and in the same research group as Yan.
1:01 p.m.: local dispatchers were notified of an “active shooter” on campus.
1:03 p.m.: the campus received the first Alert Carolina of “an armed and dangerous” person on or near campus.
(Screenshot of the Alert Carolina message)
Within the first hour of the lockdown, law enforcement apprehended an unidentified suspect. After police questioned him, they removed his handcuffs and released him. During a press conference on Aug. 28, UNC Police Chief Brian James said the individual was detained based on the description of the suspect and his proximity to the shooting.
2:21 p.m.: the 911 operator got another call from a woman on Williams Circle.
“I just saw a gentleman walking between my house and the other house to the woods behind our house,” the caller said.
2:31 p.m.: the Chapel Hill Police department apprehended a man suspected to be armed and dangerous. The capture took place on Williams Circle, approximately two miles from Caudill Labs. UNC Police then released a photograph of Qi, designating him a “person of interest” at 2:35 p.m.
4:14 p.m. Students received the Alert Carolina message that said “All clear. All clear. Resume normal activities.”
(Screenshot of the Alert Carolina message)
The next day, Qi was charged with first-degree murder and misdemeanor possession of a firearm on educational property.
Qi has been held in the Orange County jail without bail since his arrest.
***
Three months. That’s how long its been since this tragic incident unfolded at the University.
Since then, details have been sparse.
“Information will become more public as that process plays out in the court system,” Chief James said.
Media Hub submitted 10 records requests, yielding nearly 400 pages of documents.
Concerns about the accuracy of information and communication errors surfaced.
During a press conference on Aug. 28, Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz stated that the 911 call came in at 1:02 p.m., misrepresenting the actual time of the call at 12:58 p.m.
“There were multiple important timestamps involved in the 911 call and we incorrectly described the time at the press conference and the press release as the time of the call rather than the time on the scene,” a representative of UNC Media Relations said.
The four-minute difference in time, might appear inconsequential. However, the accurate timeline is crucial for a precise understanding of events, especially in time of a crisis.
Multiple media outlets, relying on the information from the university, also repeated the incorrect timeline, causing a ripple effect.
At 3:37 p.m. James informed Guskiewicz that Qi was in custody, an hour after the suspect was apprehended.
“Subject IS in custody. Still doing precautionary sweeps,” James said.
A delay in updating key stakeholders, like the Chancellor, can impede the timely implementation of public reassurance and decision-making.
In addition to the timeline discrepancies, communication issues persisted in official announcements.
At 3:24 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 29, an email sent to students, faculty and staff declared the cancellation of classes for the rest of the week and suspension of non-mandatory operations for Wednesday.
(Screenshot of the Alert Carolina email)
Fourteen minutes later, at 3:38 p.m., a follow-up email corrected the previous message. The revised communication clarified that classes were only cancelled only for the following day, Wednesday, Aug. 30. The University was set to return to normal operations on Thursday, Aug. 31.
(Screenshot of the Alert Carolina email)
The autopsy report of Yan revealed a harrowing account of the incident. The examination showed that Yan sustained seven gunshot wounds, including to his head, chest, abdomen and arms.
(Graphic by Steven Schlink)
***
Although a significant amount of information has been compiled, crucial details remain unanswered. These include the motive behind the incident and the whereabouts of the 9 mm firearm utilized in the shooting.
Prosecutors and law enforcement officials haven’t said how Qi obtained the 9 mm handgun. Qi was in the United States on a student visa, which wouldn’t have qualified him to legally purchase or possess firearms, Orange County District Attorney Jeff Nieman has said.
After two mental health evaluations, Qi has been found unfit for trial, Orange County Superior Court Judge Alyson Grine, ruled Monday, Nov. 27.
“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.
Qi likely suffers from untreated schizophrenia or psychosis, rendering him unable to cooperate with his legal counsel.
Grine also ruled during the Monday, Nov. 27, hearing that Qi will be committed to Central Regional Hospital in Butner for psychological treatment. If his condition improves, doctors there must notify the district attorney so that court proceedings can progress.
