Faculty Member Fatally Shot at University of North Carolina
An assailant fatally shot a faculty member in a laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Monday, causing chaos and fear on campus. The incident led to a lockdown that lasted several hours as students barricaded themselves in classrooms, dorms, and bathrooms.
According to Brian James, the chief of U.N.C. Police, a suspect was taken into custody at 2:31 p.m., approximately 90 minutes after the police received a 911 call reporting the gunshots at Caudill Labs, a science building on campus. The suspect’s identity has not been disclosed, and formal charges have yet to be filed.
The authorities have not released the name of the faculty member who was killed, as they are still in the process of notifying their relatives. The police are currently investigating the motive behind the shooting and have not yet recovered the weapon used in the attack. Chief James declined to comment on any relationship between the assailant and the victim.
“This loss is devastating, and the shooting damages the trust and safety that we so often take for granted in our campus community. We will work to rebuild that sense of trust and safety within our community,” said Kevin M. Guskiewicz, the chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The shooting disrupted the sense of peace on campus, as classes had just resumed on August 21 after the summer break. The university immediately sent out an alert advising individuals in the area to seek shelter and avoid windows when they received the report of shots fired.
Jake Diana, a Ph.D. student and teaching assistant, described his terror when he witnessed a police car speeding by and heard the campus sirens blaring. He and his students quickly took refuge in a nearby conference room, barricading the door and turning off the lights. They remained on the ground, silent and fearful.
At 4:14 p.m., the university announced that the lockdown was over and declared the situation “all clear.” However, Chief James stated that the campus remained under lockdown until the suspect’s identity was verified, and the authorities searched for the firearm used in the shooting. Fortunately, there were no additional victims reported.
In response to the incident, the university canceled classes for Monday and Tuesday. Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina expressed his support for the U.N.C. community, pledging state resources to capture the shooter and protect the campus. Local schools were also placed in “secure mode” to ensure the safety of students and staff.
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of the faculty member and strives to regain the sense of trust and security that has been shattered by this tragic event.