UNC Chapel Hill student Tailei Qi was named a “person of interest” after an “armed and dangerous” man sealed off the campus
A graduate student has been named as a person involved in the reported shooting at UNC Chapel Hill.
Local media identified Tailei Qi as the person of interest in relation to Monday’s shooting.
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It came after police officers shared a picture of the person of interest and described them as “armed and dangerous”.
Footage captured by the WRALIt showed a man in a dark t-shirt being led into a car.
WRAL has reported that he was not immediately formally charged.
Police were unable to confirm the identity of the individual when approached by The US Sun.
Videos captured by local TV stations show a massive police presence, with armed officers in bulletproof vests pouring through the streets.
A faculty member at the university died after the shooting.
UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz announced the suspect was arrested about 90 minutes after the shooting.
Around 50 patrol cars and several helicopters crashed on the university.
Police have not identified a motive in the further course of their investigation.
Brian James, the UNC Police Chief, said: “We really want to know why it is in this case and what led to it.”
It is not known if the shooter and the victim knew each other.
James said: “Hopefully that will be revealed through interviews with the suspect and any available witnesses.”
Police have confirmed they are looking for a gun but have not given details.
It is not known if the gun was legally purchased.
Some injuries were first reported by the student newspaper The daily tar salesbut this information has yet to be confirmed by the police.
As the shooting unfolded, students barricaded themselves in dormitories and classrooms.
The university was closed for around three hours.
That’s what exchange student Oliver Katz said Associated Press: “It was intense. But I was a little surprised that other people didn’t panic as much.”
Sophomore Adrian Lanier said the students lined up against a wall in a gymnasium.
Other students barricaded themselves in their dormitories with their furniture.
Qi worked as a research assistant while working on his doctoral thesis. according to his LinkedIn degree in applied physics at the university.
He is a graduate of Wuhan University and received his master’s degree in Materials Science from Louisiana State University in 2021.
The data subject also appeared to have shared some now-powerful posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, in the months leading up to the incident.
On July 31, he made a desperate attempt to make friends by publishing something about himself and his research interests.
“Would like to make new friends,” the post reads.
“A bit stupid in everyday little things, very enthusiastic about research.”
investigation initiated
According to the police presence, the investigation appears to have focused on the Caudill Labs building.
The students told local outlets it was difficult to get calls, so they texted the family to say they were safe.
Lecturer Noel Brewer posted on X that he was cordoned off in his office with co-workers and colleagues.
“This is my son’s first day of kindergarten. I can’t believe he’s in lockdown too,” Brewer wrote.
“I hope they don’t tell the kids what’s going on. He’s 5.”
UNC-Chapel Hill has confirmed that all classes scheduled for August 29 have been cancelled.
The alarm should remain in office until 11:59 p.m. today.
The university has confirmed that non-mandatory operations have also been suspended for the day.