LATEST UPDATE: UNC says one faculty member was fatally shot on Monday. Click here for details.

UPDATE: UNC authorities issued an Alert Carolina at 4:14 p.m. saying the campus is being given an all clear following the incident. No word yet was shared on the person of interest’s status. The university encouraged everyone to avoid Caudill Labs, which is at 131 South Road on campus.

UNC issued an Alert Carolina to the campus community shortly after 1 p.m., saying an armed and dangerous person has been reported on or near campus. The campus was kept on lock down for around three hours, during which the university continued to urge those around the Chapel Hill campus to shelter in place because a suspect was still “at large.” During that time, UNC Police shared a photo of a person of interest related to the campus’ lockdown, which matched a photo of graduate student Tailei Qi.

The university said at 3:14 p.m. that all classes and events are canceled for the rest of Monday.

UNC’s reiteration of a suspect still being sought through 2 and 3 p.m. came after an initial call of one being detained. Orange County EMS scanners at 1:44 p.m. said authorities had a suspect in custody, which was also shown during a live broadcast on ABC11. The person, however, eventually had their handcuffs removed and were questioned by police.

During that time, UNC and UNC Police issued several Alert Carolina messages — sharing at 1:51 p.m. and 2:05 p.m. — that the campus community is encouraged to continue sheltering in place.

Orange County EMS’ scanners said gunshots were heard in the area of Caudill Labs on Monday afternoon. Messages between first responders indicated South Road was shut down to Raleigh Street for police response during the 1 p.m. hour, while social media posts and news broadcasts from the UNC campus showed a heavy presence near Caudill Labs.

Governor Roy Cooper shared a statement shortly before 2:45 p.m. saying he had spoken with the responding authorities and “pledged all state resources needed to capture the shooter and protect the UNC campus.” In a message shared at 3:09 p.m., the governor called the incident a shooting. North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein shared a similar message.

“This is a tragic way to start a new semester and the state will provide any assistance necessary to support the UNC community,” added the governor.

UNC Health officials confirmed to Chapelboro that the UNC Hospitals campus in Chapel Hill had not received any patients from the active shooter case on campus as of 4:10 p.m. The hospitals were placed on lockdown as a precaution with the rest of the university’s campus — but were issued an all-clear around 4 p.m. and resumed normal operations. Outpatient clinics on the UNC campus, however, were closed for the rest of Monday.

The incident led the nearby Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools system to enter “secure mode” for all of its campuses and offices, which extended past when elementary and middle school students would typically be released. The district urged families that “all levels of school will be significantly delayed,” but said local authorities had issued the “all clear” at 3:40 p.m. Elementary and middle school students began leaving immediately, while CHCCS high schools would release students at the normal 4 p.m. time. All after-school activities within the district are cancelled for the day, while after-school care will all take place indoors, according to CHCCS leadership.

The Chapel Hill Transit System held its vehicles as police responded to the situation, with GoTriangle doing the same Monday afternoon. After the all clear was issued, Chapel Hill Transit shared the latest service updates. Buses will not run along South Road, which affects several routes, but transportation will run continuously despite vehicles being off-schedule.

 

UNC’s Healthy Heels initiative — which is a collaboration with Campus Health, Student Wellness and the campus psychological services — shared resources any UNC community member can use in the wake of Monday’s campus lockdown. The university urged anyone experiencing a medical emergency, a mental health crisis, or feel in immediate danger of harm to call 911 or visit a hospital’s emergency department. UNC students can also contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at the 24-hour phone line at 919-966-3658 and faculty or staff can contact the 24-hour University Employee Assistance Program at 877-314-5841.

Additional national services include:

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