University shooting suspect seen being arrested after manhunt and 2 people shot
Police have released a picture of a suspect after a faculty member was killed and another wounded at a North Carolina university this afternoon. A man is now in custody.
Kevin Guskiewicz, chancellor of the university, confirmed the tragic news that one member of its staff has died, he tweeted: “This shooting damages the trust and safety that we so often take for granted on our campus. We will work to rebuild that trust and safety. Our hearts are with the family of our fellow faculty member, those who are personally connected to the victim and those traumatized by this senseless act of violence.
(UNCPolice/Twitter)"In response, we have cancelled classes and all campus events for the rest of the day on Monday, Aug. 28 and Tuesday, Aug. 29. The campus is moving to Condition 2 until midnight tomorrow.”
A video from the university shows a man in a grey t-shirt and black trousers being put into a police car while wearing handcuffs. An all-clear has now been issued, but classes were cancelled for the day.
The same picture can be seen as the profile image on an Instagram profile, Twitter account and a bio on the University's website, all for a student named Tailei Qi, who is also a graduate of Wuhan University in China. Police have not yet confirmed the suspect's name.
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According to his online profile, he is a graduate student at the university's Applied Physical Sciences school. His account on X, the website also known as Twitter, shows a post from the start of this month in which he stated he would "like to make some new friends."
"This photo shows a person of interest in today’s armed and dangerous person situation," UNC Police said earlier. "If you see this person, keep your distance, put your safety first and call 911."
On X, a professor confirmed the staff and students have now been cleared to leave. Associate Professor David Pier said: "I am a professor at UNC. We have been locked in a classroom because of an active shooter but we have just been cleared to leave."
According to The Daily Tar Heel, at least one person was wounded after the suspect, described as a male wearing a grey shirt, reportedly fired gunshots leaving two wounded. The UNC Hospital did not receive any patients.
Noel Brewer, who works at the university, tweeted he was on lockdown with staff and colleagues following orders from police. He said: "On lockdown in my office with staff and colleagues. Active shooter somewhere nearby. Perhaps near genome sciences. I heard that a student was shot."
A suspect was seen handcuffedThe university was on lockdown today after two people were shot. The establishment said in a tweet: "Emergency: Armed, dangerous person on or near campus. Go inside now; avoid windows. If you are on campus, shelter in place. If you are off campus, stay away from campus. We will provide updates as they become available."
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said he "pledged all state resources needed to capture the shooter and protect the UNC campus," to authorities in Orange County.
Students being led away by cops (ABC 11)The alert was first raised at 1pm local time. Officials confirmed the shelter-in-place order remained in effect and that it was “an ongoing situation" around 50 minutes later. At around 2.30pm, the school once again asked people to stay inside.
A heavy police presence with around 30 law enforcement vehicles could be seen on the campus, where the current semester began last week. Officers can be seen with their guns drawn. Nearby Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools posted on social media that all doors would be locked at its schools and offices until authorities say it's safe. This has now ended.
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Students and staff have now been cleared to leave (BNONews/Twitter)An officer was seen shouting "Inside, now!" at two students that tried to leave the student centre.
Christopher Lewis revealed he was contacted by his daughter who was told to shelter in place while cops investigated the campus, he tweeted: "We were contacted by my daughter that there is a possible shooter at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is safe and sheltering in place, but seeing this image is not comforting for a parent. We are glad she is with friends in a safe building."
The alert was first raised at 1pm local time (WRAL)A student told TV station WTVD that she was forced to block entry to her dormitory door with her furniture. Other students said they were hiding in a dark bathroom.
Noel T. Brewer, a professor of health behavior, said he was once held at gunpoint in his mother’s jewelry store, but that Monday’s apparent shooting and lockdown was “far more stressful.”
One of Brewer's colleagues is visiting from Africa and staying in the US for the first time.
“She said her one concern was guns and possibly something happening at the university,” Brewer said. “And this was her first faculty meeting, and her worst nightmare came true.”
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