North Carolina to pay family of UNC professor to settle wrongful death claim for campus shooting

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- The state of North Carolina agreed to pay a $750,000 settlement to a wrongful death claim filed by the family of a UNC-Chapel Hill physics professor who was shot and killed on campus in 2023.

According to our newsgathering partners at the News and Observer, the claim, which was filed by Dr. Zijie Yan's wife and children, said the university took some responsibility in Yan's death, stating that he "was killed by a UNC Student who suffered from a variety of severe mental illnesses, including Schizophrenia and who had threatened Professor Yan on several occasions."

Yan was shot and killed in August 2023 in the second week of the fall semester. The shooting prompted an hours-long lockdown on campus.

Tailei Qi was arrested and charged in the shooting. Documents showed he and Yan were overheard arguing before five gunshots rang out about 1 p.m. inside Caudill Laboratories.

Qi's arrest happened off-campus less than two hours after the initial call of shots fired, about two miles from Caudill Labs.

After the shooting, police searched Qi's apartment and found a notebook with login information for two different firearm website forums. On those forums, users sell and discuss guns.

Qi was committed to Central Regional Hospital in Butner for psychological treatment after a judge determined he was unfit for trial.

The judge said two separate mental evaluations found Qi likely suffers from untreated schizophrenia. Because of that, the judge said, Qi cannot comprehend his situation, assist in his legal defense, or even understand court proceedings.