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UNC-Chapel Hill deadly shooting suspect appears in court, DA says gun used hasn’t been found

UNC-Chapel Hill deadly shooting suspect appears in court, DA says gun used hasn’t been found
Interpreters in the courtroom. I can explain. I think you're on, is he in the court or do I need to get on the court call? We have *** certified interpreter in the courtroom. I think there's also one on court calls. Ok, let's, um, you take the one who's here is, I don't know if maybe we can approach an attempt to be helpful. I knew that there was an interpreter that they had brought in, the FBI had brought in to do his interrogation. I know, um, I talked to the sheriff about that earlier. I think it's bad luck to have the same interpreter who's gonna walk. I understood. I understand that. I just want you to know, I didn't know I was transparent with m grave about this all the way. And it was never intended that it would be someone who would interpret for *** confidential conversation. It's just that it was the only reason that is there was the strong uh preference, all things being equal that, that someone in the room would be better than someone on court call again. And my question was just about like the athletes at the end, he's talking to, he's talking to your phone right now. Um We're gonna ask Mr interpreter for you not to speak with Mr right now. So I'm gonna ask you not to speak with Mr right now. Thank you. Um I just, and part of the way we got crossed is is that the person in the FBI think instantly, I believe that she said, oh, we've been contacted by *** OC and we can send somebody and I think that what happened is she'd been contacted by someone from the College of Das or something that I had called for help to someone else that they thought was *** OC. I my things for me, father have some court. However, I'd rather have some baby, the text like and what they say was is that from their side, they would not cross the line of doing *** confidential conversation but their, their ethics say it's ok to do the open court part. I the case. Ok. As long as he's here, he's her part. I've been told Mr Chow, could you approach the bench please? I just wanna make sure I'm pronouncing that. And are you *** MC? Sir? As an *** MC certifying the caoc register trying to, I thought I was ok. Contract and check. I feel like that's sufficient. Ok. Just double checking. We, we have, we have double booked interpreters. So I'm gonna release the one who is on court call. Yes. And then I'm not going to get on court call until we finish this if that's ok. Thank you, sir. Um Good afternoon mister. My name is Sherry Murle. I'm the judge presiding in first appearances this afternoon and we are getting ready to conduct your first appearance. She not because yes, so Mr has been charged in two counts. First one being first degree murder. The allegation being that he did unlawfully willfully and feloniously with malice of forethought, kill and murder. And second count is gun on educational property allegation being he did unlawfully and willfully unknowingly possess *** pistol, *** nine millimeter handgun on educational property. That being UNC Chapel Hill, you're good. Um Mr, you are charged with possession of *** firearm on educational property and he's charged with the possession. So that's *** class I felony just for transparency honor as it's listed. Sorry, I tell you. Thank you confused. Just to be transparent. Your honor. It is listed on the warrant as the misdemeanor classification of that offense I realized for first appearances, that's what we're with. I do in good faith believe that that is likely to be charged at *** later stage at the felony stage. But what it says on the warrant that I didn't draw up says, um sir, as your, this court believes that it's *** class *** felony to possess on educational property and out of an abundance of caution. I'm going to tell him what the punishment is for that offense. If I'm wrong, it will be *** lesser punishment. But the punishment for *** class *** felony in North Carolina is *** maximum punishment of 24 months in prison. So you're also charged with first degree murder, which is *** class *** felony and carries *** maximum punishment of death and *** minimum punishment of life without parole. You have the right. Well, I'm sorry, Mr Interpreter. Use of blood crazy. Yeah, you, you go, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say about the cases can be used against you. You have the right to an attorney. I am going to appoint the Capitol Defender's office to represent you. They will assign *** lawyer to represent you, Miss Graves who is standing with you today in this proceeding as *** lawyer with the public Defender's office, they will be working with the Capitol Defender's office because the team. So 15 two minutes do that. You, you understand the use of that have the concepts. Do we need to address the issue of bond, Mr D? Well, just your honor, the state would ask he is currently being held with no bond and the state asked the court not modify that condition at this time. I am going to, would you like to be heard? M Graves? I'm going to leave the bond at no bond. And do we need to set *** date for *** probable cause hearing? I am requesting *** probable cause date. Yes, your honor. Um The state would request September 18th. That's Monday, September 18th. We will set the probable cause hearing for Monday September 18. Mhm. See your point. What you said are there any other matters we need to address today with Mr Cheney? Not from the state? Thank you. Mhm. Sorry. Yeah, Mr Cho, do I need to sign anything?
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UNC-Chapel Hill deadly shooting suspect appears in court, DA says gun used hasn’t been found
Tailei Qi, a 34-year-old doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was taken into custody on Monday in connection with the deadly shooting of a UNC faculty member.Qi, a second-year doctoral student in applied physical sciences, was apprehended on Williams Circle about two miles north of campus at 2:40 p.m. On Tuesday, Qi made his first court appearance. Judge Sherri Murrell read Qi the charges, including first-degree murder and possession of a weapon on educational property. A public defender will represent Qi. He has no bond and his next hearing was set for Sept. 18.Orange County District Attorney Jeff Nieman said the gun used in the shooting, a 9 mm pistol, has yet to be found. Nieman told WRAL he won't pursue the death penalty in the case, making the maximum possible punishment a sentence of life in prison.UNC-Chapel Hill said Zijie Yan, an associate professor in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, was killed in the shooting. Yan worked for the University since 2019. The university said they're in contact with Yan's family and providing resources and support.For more on this story check out WXII 12 News coverage below and visit our news partner, WRAL. Related Coverage

Tailei Qi, a 34-year-old doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was taken into custody on Monday in connection with the deadly shooting of a UNC faculty member.

Qi, a second-year doctoral student in applied physical sciences, was apprehended on Williams Circle about two miles north of campus at 2:40 p.m.

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On Tuesday, Qi made his first court appearance. Judge Sherri Murrell read Qi the charges, including first-degree murder and possession of a weapon on educational property. A public defender will represent Qi. He has no bond and his next hearing was set for Sept. 18.

Orange County District Attorney Jeff Nieman said the gun used in the shooting, a 9 mm pistol, has yet to be found. Nieman told WRAL he won't pursue the death penalty in the case, making the maximum possible punishment a sentence of life in prison.

UNC-Chapel Hill said Zijie Yan, an associate professor in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences, was killed in the shooting.

zijie yan
Hearst OwnedUNC Chapel Hill
Zijie Yan, an associate professor was killed in the shooting on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus. 

Yan worked for the University since 2019. The university said they're in contact with Yan's family and providing resources and support.

For more on this story check out WXII 12 News coverage below and visit our news partner, WRAL.

Related Coverage