'Person Of Interest' Named In Killing Of Yale Grad Student: PD

NEW HAVEN, CT — Police have named a person of interest in the fatal shooting of Yale graduate student Kevin Jiang, 26, gunned down Saturday in the East Rock neighborhood.

Jiang, of West Haven, was found shot to death on Lawrence Street between Nash and Nicoll streets at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, police said.

New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said Qinxuan Pan, 29, of Malden, MA, is wanted for questioning but is “not a suspect at this time but a person of interest."

Reyes said a warrant for Pan's arrest is for a car stolen out of Massachusetts.

Pan is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate, according to his Facebook.

Reyes said Pan is considered "armed and dangerous" and anyone who comes in contact with him should exercise extreme caution." Reyes said anyone who sees or comes across Pan should call the New Haven Police Department Homicide Bureau at 203-946-6304

Reyes did not explicitly tie him to the crime: "I'm not saying he's the shooter at this point."

Reyes said Pan was staying at the Best Western motel in North Haven and officers in that town contacted New Haven police.

According to his Facebook profile, Pan works at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. He's listed as a Google Scholar.

The New Haven Police Department Homicide Unit is looking for Qinxuan Pan (DOB 04/16/1991). Pan was last seen at the Best Western Hotel, 201 Washington Avenue, North Haven. Last known address 193 Clifton Street, Malden MA. Pan is an MIT Graduate student.
PAN has two active warrants – one of the warrants is fully extraditable.
PAN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
Use Extreme Caution. If located contact, Homicide Detectives at (203)946-6304 or the
New Haven Police Department Anonymous Tip Line at 1-866-888-8477 Email: ECIC@newhavenct.gov

Jiang was an Army veteran, recently engaged

An Army veteran days away from his 27th birthday, he’d recently become engaged, according to his Facebook page.

Monday night a virtual vigil was held and attended by hundreds including family, close friends, classmates and colleagues, Yale administrators, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the New Haven community to honor the Yale School of the Environment graduate student, the Yale News reported.

In its story, Yale News said Jiang was described by his faculty advisor as, “...a voracious learner with a smile that seemed to come from deep inside him.”

Jiang would have completed his master’s degree in environmental science this fall and part of his work included Quinnipiac River Watershed fish mercury level research, it was reported. An Army veteran where he served as a tank operator and chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear officer, Yale News reported. Jiang was also a member of the 118th Medical Battalion of the Connecticut National Guard.

Yale News reported he cooked and served at a homeless shelter, volunteered at his church and was a mentor to young people.

His pastor at Trinity Baptist Church, Greg Hendrickson, took to Facebook to grieve his death.

“Kevin Jiang was a beloved member of our community with much to look forward to. He eagerly invited others to church and actively volunteered to serve. Earlier this week, I had agreed to officiate Kevin's wedding. Now, we will be officiating his funeral instead. As a community, we are grieving deeply right now. But Kevin lived by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Above all he looked forward to Jesus’ promise of the resurrection from the dead. Though his earthly life was cut short, he used the time that he had on earth to the fullest. His example inspires us to do the same.”

Jiang’s funeral is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church, 630 State St., New Haven.

Detectives ask anyone with information to contact the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6304. Callers may remain anonymous or submit tips anonymously by calling 1-866-888-TIPS (1-866-888-8477).