Hundreds gather to reflect and remember UNC professor
Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday night in Cary to remember Univeristy of North Carolina at Chapel Hill professor Dr. Zijie Yan, who was gunned down last week inside a classroom on campus.
As candles illuminated the background, soft music played in tribute to Dr. Yan. Pictures of Yan outside of his work clothes, simply enjoying life, were displayed for all to see.
“I want us to focus on the loss of one of our own.” one speaker said.
Speaker after speaker shared kind words about the brilliant professor.
“He was a great mentor loving son to his parents.” another speaker said.
Stories about the soon-to-be tenured professor were told in English and Mandarin Chinese.
The stories came to an end, and the crowd fell silent for a moment. Everyone thought about the man who had left behind a wife and two daughters.
"Stein May the life and memory of Dr. Yan be a blessing," speaker said.
The support for Dr. Yan's family is ongoing. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help them with expenses.
A grand jury indicted 34-year-old doctoral student Tailei Qi on charges of murder and firing a gun on educational property Tuesday.
Qi is accused of killing Yan on campus last week.
Authorities are holding Qi without bond.
