Virginia Tech graduate student Xin Yang was killed during an attack at the school's Graduate Life Center on January 21, 2009. According to reports, the 22-year-old Yang was decapitated, allegedly by fellow graduate student Haiyang Zhu. Authorities said the Yang and Zhu knew each other; he was reportedly listed as an emergency contact. There was no immediate word on a motive for the murder. Zhu was arrested minutes after the killing; he was charged with first-degree murder.CNN: Killer decapitates Va. Tech student, police say (January 22, 2009)
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Fast Facts
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Killed in an attack at Virginia Tech University on January 21, 2009
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Age at time of death
22
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Police arrested Haiyang Zhu in connection with the murder
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Yang was decapitated in the incident at the Au Bon Pain cafe in Virginia Tech's Graduate Life CenterCNN: Killer decapitates Va. Tech student, police say (January 22, 2009)
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Reports said when police entered the Graduate Life Center, they found Zhu holding Yang's severed headSky News: Virginia Tech Student Decapitated (
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There was no immediate word on a motive for the killing
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Witnesses say Yang and Zhu were sitting together at the cafe having a "calm conversation" minutes before the attackCollegiateTimes.com: Stabbing death in Donaldson Brown (January 22, 2009)
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Yang arrived at Virginia Tech University from China on January 8, 2009CollegiateTimes.com: Stabbing death in Donaldson Brown (January 22, 2009)
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She was a graduate student in accounting
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School officials say Zhu "had been assisting her in adjusting to life at Tech"CollegiateTimes.com: Stabbing death in Donaldson Brown (January 22, 2009)
