The Hidden Obsession Behind a Yale Graduate's Murder

In February 2021, 26-year-old Kevin Jiang, a Yale School of the Environment graduate student and U.S. Army veteran, was found dead outside his car in New Haven, Connecticut after multiple gunshot wounds were discovered at the scene. Initially believed to be a case of random road rage, the investigation took on a more personal tone when lead homicide detective David Zaweski noted that the excessive firing at the downed victim suggested a targeted attack.

Evidence from the scene was initially limited to surveillance footage capturing a dark SUV, but a significant break came when North Haven police informed investigators about Qinxuan Pan, a motorist who had encountered car trouble on nearby railroad tracks about half an hour after the killing. Officers, who had assisted Pan with his predicament unaware of the unfolding murder investigation, later connected him to a bag containing a firearm and ammunition found at a local restaurant near his hotel, directly linking him to the shell casings at the crime scene.

Further inquiries, including a review of Facebook profiles, uncovered an unexpected connection between Pan and Jiang through Jiang’s fiancée, Zion Perry. The pair had become acquainted during their university days at a Christian group at MIT, although their interactions had long ceased once Perry went on to study at Yale. Detective Zaweski explained that there appeared to be a hidden obsession on Pan’s part—a disturbing secret unknown to both Jiang and Perry that ultimately led to the targeted act of violence.

In the days leading up to the murder, additional incidents involving the firing of .45 caliber bullets into several homes were linked to Pan, suggesting that these acts were part of a broader plan to mislead investigators into thinking Jiang’s death was a random occurrence. After a nationwide manhunt, authorities arrested Pan in Birmingham, Alabama, where he was discovered living under a false identity with incriminating evidence in his possession. He later accepted a plea deal and, in April 2024, was sentenced to 35 years in prison.

Jiang’s life, though tragically short, left an indelible mark on those who knew him. His family and community remember him as a source of joy and positivity, underscoring the profound loss felt after his untimely death.