UNC faculty member killed in campus shooting

UNC faculty member killed, Chapel Hill University of North Carolina (UNC) faculty member killed in campus shooting

A tragedy unfolded on Monday at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as a faculty member lost their life and an individual was taken into custody following a shooting incident. The campus was in lockdown for three hours, prompting urgent alerts to students to find shelter.

Despite having begun classes just a week prior, the atmosphere on campus shifted from one of celebration and enthusiasm to one of fear and an eerie silence due to the incident.

Speaking at a press conference held in the afternoon, Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz expressed the somber sentiment prevailing on campus, stating, “This is a day of deep sorrow for our campus community.”

Law enforcement authorities refrained from revealing the suspect’s identity, as formal charges had not yet been filed. Similarly, the victim’s identity was being communicated to their next of kin by the authorities.

The initial report of a shooting at Caudill Labs, a central facility specializing in chemistry, was received by UNC Police Chief Brian James at 1:02 p.m., as outlined during the press conference. In response, a substantial contingent of police officers from various agencies swiftly descended on the campus, with some arriving in armored vehicles, while a helicopter circled overhead. Classes were promptly canceled in light of the situation.

The incident occurred just two days after a tragic event in Jacksonville, Florida, where a gunman targeted Edward Waters University, a historically Black college, and later carried out a fatal shooting at a Dollar General store, believed to be racially motivated. Notably, a security guard prevented the shooter from entering the university.

The UNC shooting suspect was apprehended by 2:31 p.m., according to Chief James.

As investigations were in their early stages, Chief James shared during the evening press conference that it was premature to speculate on a motive. Efforts were also ongoing to locate the firearm involved in the incident. While the campus was on lockdown, authorities released an image of a “person of interest” described as “armed and dangerous.” It was not confirmed later if this individual was the same person in custody.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, an alumnus of the university, pledged his support via a tweet, promising that all necessary state resources would be provided to ensure the capture of the shooter and the protection of the campus. President Biden received a briefing on the situation, as per a statement from the White House.

Jackson Gerdes, a sophomore, was entering a dining hall when he received an emergency alert on his phone, instructing everyone to seek shelter. He conveyed this information to a staff member before quickly making his way to the dining hall’s second floor, where he met a friend. As they sat down, students around them began monitoring local police scanners and checking the anonymous messaging app Yik Yak for updates. Gerdes noted the stark silence that had befallen the campus, describing it as surreal.

Chancellor Guskiewicz praised the staff for their adherence to training protocols and their swift response to the situation. However, junior Kyle Sandino, who was studying political science and dramatic arts, expressed a desire for more communication from the university. Sandino and his peers received an emergency alert instructing them to find shelter in their current locations. Although their professor attempted to secure the classroom door, it proved impossible. Around 1 p.m., a group of geology students, along with their professor and a teaching assistant, sought refuge in the basement of Mitchell Hall, locking themselves in a room. Sandino shared these details via a messaging app before the all-clear signal was given.

Reflecting on the incident, Sandino stated, “You never think that it will happen to you, and perhaps I had similar thoughts, but it happened today… It’s happening as I write this, and it can happen to anyone else in this country.”

Chancellor Guskiewicz assured that mental health resources would be available to both students and staff members, recognizing the emotional toll such an event can exact. He underscored the unsettling impact of the shooting, highlighting how it erodes the sense of trust and security that is often taken for granted.