Yale students Maria Kochugaeva (left) and Elvira Mulyukova leave flowers at a memorial for Kevin Jiang in New Haven, Connecticut, on Monday. (ARNOLD GOLD / HEARST CONNECTICUT MEDIA / AP)
The shooting death of a 26-year-old Chinese-American graduate student at Yale University last weekend does not appear to be a random act, and he may have been targeted, police said on Monday.
Kevin Jiang, a second-year master's student in the forestry program at the Yale School of the Environment, was shot and killed in his car on Saturday night near his fiancee's house in New Haven, Connecticut.
Kevin Jiang, a second-year master's student in the forestry program at the Yale School of the Environment, was shot and killed in his car on Saturday night near his fiancee's house in New Haven, Connecticut
Shortly after 8:30 pm on Saturday, New Haven police responded to callers reporting the sound of multiple gunshots. They found Jiang lying on the road near his car, which had rear-end damage.
Jiang was operating the vehicle when he was shot multiple times, according to police.
"This was not a drive-by," New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said at a news conference on Monday. "This was much more up close," he said, adding it is too early to speculate on a motive.
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"We have very specific leads we are exploring," Reyes said. He said community residents "reported seeing much during that day" and proved helpful in putting together what happened.
In an email on Sunday to the university community, Yale Police Department Chief Ronnell Higgins said that witnesses saw a new black vehicle drive off. Neighbors who were also nearby said that they heard around seven gunshots.
Yale University President Peter Salovey said on Monday school officials were working with authorities on the investigation.
Virtual gathering
More than 200 members of the Yale community signed into an informal virtual community gathering to remember Jiang on Sunday afternoon, hosted by the Yale School of the Environment.
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Jiang, who was from Chicago, graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in environmental studies. He spent two years in environmental consulting before enrolling at Yale. School officials said Jiang was expected to graduate this fall.
In his last post on Facebook, Jiang shared news of his engagement to his girlfriend. "She said 'YES'!" Jiang wrote on Jan 30. "Ever since I met you, God has been working in my heart and changing my heart for the better, helping me become more generous and kinder to others."
"Kevin would have celebrated his 27th birthday next week," New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said on Sunday. "I am deeply saddened that we lost him last night to gun violence."
His killing was the city's sixth homicide of the year, police officials said.
Jiang was a US Army veteran. He served as a tank operator and as a chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear officer. He was a member of the Army National Guard.
He received several awards, including two Army Reserve Component Achievement medals, a National Defense Service Medal, an Army Service Ribbon, an Army Achievement Medal and a Washington National Guard Service Ribbon, said local TV station News 8.
