29 August 2023 , 11:18
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Terrified North Carolina University students had to jump out of a window to escape a gunman who was later arrested for shooting dead a staff member.
Police were searching for both the weapon and the motive in the shooting at Chapel Hill on campus that left one faculty member dead and prompted an hour-long lockdown amid a search for the suspect.
Video taken at the scene shows students jumping from windows at the university as the shooting unfolded. Two young men were seen passing their belongings out of a window before jumping from a ledge to the ground.
In response to the video, Governor of California Gavin Newsom wrote: "Another day in America: Students jumping out of windows to flee a crazed gunman. This isn’t freedom. This isn’t public safety. This. Isn't. Normal."
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The assailant in Monday afternoon's shooting was taken into custody about an hour and a half after the gunfire was first reported. Neither the suspect nor the victim was immediately identified and it wasn't clear whether they knew each other. Formal charges were pending.
Officials released a photo of the man they wish to speak to in connection with the incident. Investigators also said that they had not yet recovered the weapon used in the shooting. In a statement, police said: "This photo shows a person of interest in today's armed and dangerous person situation. If you see this person, keep your distance, put your safety first and call 911."
Tailei Qi, who has been named as a person of interest in the suspected shooting, previously studied at Wuhan University (UNC)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.
UNC Police received a 911 call reporting shots fired at Caudill Labs just after 1 p.m. Monday. An emergency alert was issued and sirens sounded just two minutes later, issuing a lockdown warning that left worried students and staff barricading themselves inside dorms, bathrooms, classrooms and gyms.
“I am devastated by today’s shooting in one of our campus buildings, a place where we conduct our important work of teaching, mentoring, and research every day,” Chancellor Kevin M Guskiewicz said in a statement on Monday. “This shooting damages the trust and safety that we so often take for granted on our campus.”