Minghui Yu
Minghui Yu was a PhD student in the Department of Statistics. Scheduled to graduate in 2011, Yu was struck and killed by an SUV while fleeing attackers just north of the Morningside Heights campus.
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Life
Before coming to Columbia, Minghui studied at USTC in China, in the Special Class for the Gifted Young.[1]
At Columbia, Minghui served on the 2007-2008 working committee of the CUCSSA. He was also a TA for the statistics department.
Circumstances of death
On April 4, 2008, Minghui was waiting at a bus stop at 122nd St. and Broadway shortly before 9pm when two teenage thugs set upon him. He refused to give up his belongings, and the two attackers starting punching and kicking him. Minghui then attempted to flee his attackers, and ran out onto the street, at which point he was struck by a Jeep Cherokee.[2] He was taken to St. Luke's Hospital but passed away as a result of the severe head trauma he sustained.
The motivation for the attack remains unclear. While initially it was reported as an attempted mugging, later accounts revealed that the attack may have been random, or may have had racial overtones.
Investigation and aftermath
The driver who struck Minghui stopped at the scene and gave assistance. No charges were filed against him.[3] An NYPD investigation is underway and is being supported by the Department of Public Safety. Apparently, images of the attackers were caught on several security cameras on buildings in the area.
One of Minghui's assailants, a 14-year-old boy, has been caught and charged with manslaughter. He will face the charge in juvenile court. There are not yet official reports that the other assailant has been caught.
His family (presumably in China) has been notified, and plans are being made to hold a "memorial event" on campus.
