Current:Home > InvestStudent accused in UNC Chapel Hill shooting may be mentally unfit for trial-InfoLens
Student accused in UNC Chapel Hill shooting may be mentally unfit for trial
View Date:2024-12-23 11:21:58
A graduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill accused of a fatal shooting that sparked a campus-wide lockdown and national headlines is not mentally fit to stand trial, defense attorneys argued in court Tuesday following a doctor's evaluation.
Tailei Qi, 34, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and having a gun on an educational property after the fatal shooting on campus last month of Zijie Yan, an associate professor in the department of applied physical sciences.
The Aug. 28 shooting sent the college into a roughly three-hour lockdown. Videos posted on social media showed a heavy police presence, with dozens of officers and a helicopter overhead as people fled buildings, some even climbing out of windows. Classes were cancelled at UNC Chapel Hill just a week into the semester.
Qi addressed the court Tuesday in a lengthy statement, in which he criticized the mental-capacity evaluation conducted by a doctor at the request of his attorneys, WRAL reported. Qi also expressed dissatisfaction with his attorneys, saying that claims of mental health concerns were a way to “bypass” that concern.
The judge has ordered Qi undergo a second mental evaluation to determine whether the trial can proceed.
Qi is listed in the department of applied physical sciences on the university's website, accessed by USA TODAY through internet archives. Yan, the faculty member killed in the shooting, is listed as Qi's adviser. The two also co-authored research papers.
Law enforcement officials have not publicly announced a motive for the shooting. The Orange County district attorney confirmed on Tuesday that the gun had still not been found, ABC 11 reported.
Qi's next court appearance is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 14.
veryGood! (779)
Related
- Pete Alonso's best free agent fits: Will Mets bring back Polar Bear?
- The UK’s AI summit is taking place at Bletchley Park, the wartime home of codebreaking and computing
- Hate crime charges filed in death of Sikh man after New York City fender bender
- Trump asks a court to prevent Michigan secretary of state from leaving his name off the 2024 ballot
- Too Hot to Handle’s Francesca Farago Gives Birth, Welcomes Twins With Jesse Sullivan
- Maui police release body camera footage showing race to evacuate Lahaina residents: This town is on fire
- Senegal electoral commission says main opposition leader Sonko should be given sponsorship forms
- Really? The College Football Playoff committee is just going to ignore Michigan scandal?
- Skai Jackson announces pregnancy with first child: 'My heart is so full!'
- Helicopters drop water on Oahu wildfire for 2nd day, while some native koa and ohia trees burn
Ranking
- Glen Powell responds to rumor that he could replace Tom Cruise in 'Mission: Impossible'
- Australia cannot strip citizenship from man over his terrorism convictions, top court says
- Dairy Queen locations in NJ to forfeit $24,000 after child labor and wage violations, feds say
- Arizona attorney general investigating county officials who refused to certify 2022 election
- Timothée Chalamet Details How He Transformed Into Bob Dylan for Movie
- Adam Johnson Tragedy: Authorities Investigating Ice Hockey Player's Death
- Police seek suspect in Southern California restaurant shooting that injured 4
- Biden administration announces measures to combat antisemitism on U.S. campuses
Recommendation
-
Candidates line up for special elections to replace Virginia senators recently elected to US House
-
UN human rights official is alarmed by sprawling gang violence in Haiti
-
Adam Johnson Tragedy: Authorities Investigating Ice Hockey Player's Death
-
Helicopters drop water on Oahu wildfire for 2nd day, while some native koa and ohia trees burn
-
John Krasinski named People's Sexiest Man Alive for 2024
-
NFL trade deadline updates: Chase Young to 49ers among flurry of late moves
-
Investigation finds a threat assessment should have been done before the Oxford High School shooting
-
Judges rule state takeover of Nashville airport’s board violates Tennessee Constitution