UNC Faculty Member Killed in Shooting; Misinformation Trends on X
AllSides Summary
One person is dead and a suspect is in custody after a shooting Monday at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC).
The Details: The victim was reportedly a faculty member, and the shooting at an on-campus laboratory prompted a three-hour campus lockdown as students were returning to classes for the fall semester. UNC's police chief said police have not determined a motive or found the gun used. The shooter was reportedly a graduate student in the school's Applied Physical Sciences department.
For Context: The lockdown and shooting came just two days after a shooter who police say was racially motivated tried to target the historically black Edwards Waters University in Jacksonville, Florida, before killing three people at a nearby Dollar General store.
How the Media Covered it: Outlets across the spectrum covered the shooting as a top story Tuesday. Some conservative commentators on X, formerly known as Twitter, spread misinformation when they shared a fake screenshot of a Fox News (Right bias) broadcast that described the shooter as a "mostly white Asian male." The "What's Happening" section on X featured "Mostly white" at one point Monday evening. A Fox spokesperson told The Messenger (Center bias) that the image is "fake and did not air."
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Police are working to determine motive and find the gun used in fatal shooting of University of North Carolina faculty member
A suspect is in custody but police still are looking for the weapon and the motive behind the fatal shooting of a faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on Monday afternoon.
Neither the victim nor the assailant has been identified after the early afternoon shooting sent the university with more than 30,000 students into lockdown for hours. The suspect was detained about 90 minutes after the gunfire interrupted activities at the school’s Caudill Laboratories, a chemistry studies building.
“We want to ensure that we gather every piece of...
From the Center
Suspect charged with 1st-degree murder in shooting of faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill
A UNC-Chapel Hill faculty member was killed and a suspect was taken into custody after a shooting prompted a three-hour lockdown Monday and rattled a campus one week into the new school year. The faculty member’s name was not being released pending notification of family, university leaders said during a news conference Monday evening. Tailei Qi, 34, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder and possessing a firearm on educational property. Police said it was too early to know a possible motive. No other injuries were reported.
From the Right
Faculty Member Killed in UNC Chapel Hill Shooting
A faculty member was killed in a shooting on the campus of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill that took place Monday.
Around 1 p.m., shots were fired at Caudill Laboratories, the college’s chemistry building. Students were told about 1 p.m. to shelter in place, and around 4 p.m., campus police gave the all-clear to resume activities.
A suspect has been arrested, Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said at a press conference Monday night.
“This is truly a tragic day for our campus community,” Guskiewicz said. “I’m grieved to report one of our faculty members was killed...
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