On Saturday 9 January 2021, a University of Chicago (UChicago) international student was shot dead in Chicago in a series of shootings across the city.
The victim was 30-year-old Chinese PhD student Yiran Fan. He was undertaking his studies as part of a joint program of the Booth School of Business and the Kenneth C. Griffin Department of Economics. He was in the fourth year of the program and was hoping to propose his dissertation later in 2021.
Yiran travelled to the US came from China and commenced a master’s degree in financial mathematics at the UChicago. He had already complete a bachelor’s degree in finance from Peking University and a master’s degree in financial engineering from the University of Cambridge.
Yiran was shot and killed in his car in the parking garage at an apartment building on Saturday afternoon. After shooting Yiran, the suspect, identified 32-year-old Jason Nightengal, shot several other people across the city. Two others died and four were wounded. The motive for the shootings is unclear at this stage.
Nightengal was shot and killed by police later on Saturday.
Immediately following the news of Yiran’s death University of Chicago President Robert J. Zimmer and Provost Ka Yee C. Lee sent a message to the university community providing brief details of the incident and expressing deep sorrow:
This sudden and senseless loss of life causes us indescribable sorrow. In the days ahead we will come together as a community to mourn, and to lift up fellow members of our community in this difficult and very sad time. Please join us in wishing consolation and healing for our student’s loved ones.
UChicago News
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Source: Global Times, University of Chicago