Audio Exposes Rapid Identification of Suspect in University of North Carolina Shooting

Law enforcement officials in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, swiftly acquired crucial information regarding the perpetrator’s identity moments after a fatal shooting on a university campus this week, as revealed in a recording of the 911 call.

Although certain segments of the audio appear to be redacted, the publicly disclosed portion provides insight into the initial moments following the shooting of Associate Professor Zijie Yan within a science building at the heart of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Subsequent to the incident, authorities apprehended Tailei Qi, a 34-year-old resident of Chapel Hill, on campus without the need for the use of force. The arrest occurred within a mere two hours of the shooting. Qi now faces charges of first-degree murder and a weapons offense. Notably, the victim, Zijie Yan, served as Qi’s faculty advisor, and Qi was an active participant in Yan’s research group.

The incident, which led to an hours-long lockdown and generated significant anxiety among students and faculty returning for the fall semester, prompted a candlelight vigil attended by several hundred individuals to honor Yan. The main campus has since resumed classes.

UNC Police Chief Brian James provided insight into the early moments following the incident. At approximately 1 p.m. on Monday, a 911 caller reported gunshots originating from Caudill Labs, Yan’s primary work location. By the time officers arrived at the scene, Qi had already departed from the building, according to James.

A 4 1/2-minute audio excerpt, released on Thursday by UNC-Chapel Hill to The Big Big News, features a distressed caller instructing others to secure doors and remain indoors due to an active shooter. The emergency operator inquired about the suspect’s description, prompting the caller to confidently identify Tailei Qi by name and provide information about his armed presence on campus. The caller further described the suspect’s attire and direction of departure from the building.

The caller also directed the operator’s attention to the university’s website, where a photograph of the suspect could be found. This photograph was subsequently released by the police as that of a “person of interest.”

According to Chief James, Qi swiftly vacated Caudill Labs and entered the Chapel Hill community. The sequence of events that transpired within the immediate aftermath of the shooting emphasized the need for swift action and response. Sirens sounded minutes after the call, accompanied by written notifications urging community members to seek shelter due to the presence of an “armed, dangerous person” either on or near the campus.

The caller’s interaction with the 911 operator underscored the importance of campus lockdown procedures. Furthermore, the caller expressed suspicion that the suspect was carrying a “short” firearm. Qi’s arrest warrant accuses him of unlawfully possessing a 9mm pistol on campus. The ongoing investigation, headed by Chief James, has yet to unveil a motive behind the tragic incident.

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• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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