A 33-year-old ex-researcher from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) received a 35-year prison sentence on Tuesday for the murder of Kevin Jiang, a graduate student from Yale University. In February, Qinxuan Pan acknowledged his guilt and regretted his sentencing. “I feel sorry for what my actions caused and for everyone affected,” he said. The reason behind the murder hasn’t been determined as yet.
The motive for the murder is still unknown
Jiang, who was killed, was a 26-year-old US Army veteran and a student at Yale’s School of the Environment. He was shot by Pan on February 6, 2021, just after leaving his fiancée’s home in Connecticut. During the hearing, Jiang’s father, Mingchen Jiang, honored his son, stating, “My son was a remarkable young man who cherished life and held deep belief in God.”
Pan and Jiang’s fiancée knew each other through social media
While the exact reason for Jiang’s murder remains undetermined, it was discovered during the investigation that Pan and Jiang’s fiancée knew each other through social media and met while at MIT.
During the trial, Jiang’s fiance told authorities she considered Pan a friend, but suspected he might have harbored feelings for her.
Pan fled after the murder and was eventually caught in Alabama, living with a fake name, $19,000 in cash, a passport, and several cell phones.
Before the judge delivered the 35-year sentence, as part of a plea agreement, many of Jiang’s family members and friends provided testimonies in court. “My son was a remarkable young man who cherished life and held deep (belief) in God. He had a bright future ahead — one that promised to spread God’s love far and wide,” Jiang’s father, Mingchen Jiang told the court. Meanwhile, Pan also expressed remorse for his action, stating, “I fully accept my penalties.”