The Yale Murder Case: How Kevin Jiang's Death Shocked New Haven's Ivy League Community
In early 2021, New Haven experienced a disturbing series of shootings that culminated in tragedy. Between December 2020 and February 2021, four separate incidents occurred where residences were struck by gunfire, fortunately without injuries to occupants. These seemingly random attacks shared a common element—all involved 45 caliber shell casings found at the scenes, and later incidents included witness reports of a dark-colored SUV fleeing the area.
The situation escalated dramatically on February 6, 2021, when Kevin Jiang, a 26-year-old Yale School of Environment graduate student, was fatally shot on Lawrence and Nicholls Street. Detectives David Zesi and Steven Cunningham arrived to find Jiang lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds, some at close range. Witness accounts and security footage revealed that Jiang had been involved in a minor traffic collision before the shooting, suggesting a targeted attack rather than a random act of violence.
Key Takeaways
A series of shootings in New Haven between December 2020 and February 2021 were connected through identical 45 caliber shell casings found at each scene.
Yale graduate student Kevin Jiang was killed on February 6, 2021, after a minor traffic collision led to him being shot multiple times at close range.
Forensic evidence ultimately linked Jiang's murder to the previous shootings that had targeted occupied residences but resulted in no injuries.
Initial Shooting Investigations
A series of unusual shootings began to unfold in New Haven in late 2020. On December 11, 2020, the first incident occurred on Huntington Street when a residence was struck by gunfire. The house was occupied, but fortunately no one was injured. Police found multiple .45 caliber shell casings at the scene.
The pattern continued with a second shooting on January 15, 2021, followed by a third on February 5. The fourth incident happened on February 6 at another occupied residence, where five rounds were fired into the home. In each case, no one was injured, and investigators consistently found .45 caliber shell casings at all four scenes.
Two key connections emerged among these shootings:
All involved .45 caliber ammunition
Witnesses to the later incidents reported seeing a dark-colored SUV fleeing the area
The situation escalated dramatically on February 6, 2021, around 8:30 PM. Police received reports of a person shot at the intersection of Lawrence and Nicholls Street in New Haven. The victim, Kevin Jong, was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators recovered eight .45 caliber shell casings, and multiple 911 callers reported seeing a dark-colored SUV leaving the area.
Kevin Jong was a 26-year-old Yale graduate student at the School of the Environment. An Army veteran originally from Chicago, he had recently become engaged and was known for his happy, genuine personality. He even maintained a fitness channel online.
When detectives David Zesci and Steven Cunningham arrived at the crime scene, they found Jong's body lying in the street with contract wounds to his upper body and head. The presence of stippling—burn patterns caused by gunpowder—on the left side of his head indicated he had been shot at close range.
Approximately 100 feet from Jong's body, investigators found his Prius parked in the middle of the road with its hazard lights activated. The vehicle showed evidence of having been hit from behind, with an impression on the back bumper resembling a license plate holder—suggesting a minor collision had occurred.
Witness statements painted a clearer picture of what happened:
A witness heard a collision and saw Jong's Prius stop with hazards on
A dark SUV had pulled up behind the Prius before reversing toward an intersection
Jong exited his vehicle, likely to exchange insurance information
Gunshots were heard when Jong approached the SUV
Another witness saw someone in black standing over Jong's body, continuing to fire even after he was down
Security footage from a nearby home confirmed this sequence, capturing the collision sounds, Jong exiting his vehicle, two gunshots followed by a scream, and then six more shots before the SUV drove away.
The fourth shooting at a residence had occurred just one hour before Jong's murder. Paul and Nae White's home was the target of the third shooting in the series. While the couple was at home one evening, bullets came through their window and door frame. They were unharmed but shaken by the close call.
Laboratory analysis later confirmed all shell casings from the five incidents—the four residence shootings and Jong's murder—were matches, definitively linking these events despite no apparent connection between the victims.
Connecting the Shootings
A series of unusual shootings began on December 11, 2020, when a residence on Huntington Street in New Haven was struck by gunfire. Police found multiple .45 caliber shell casings at the scene. Fortunately, although the house was occupied, no one was injured.
Three additional shootings followed in early 2021. On January 15, a second shooting occurred, followed by incidents on February 5 and February 6. The final residential shooting happened just one hour before a fatal incident. In each case, .45 caliber shell casings were recovered, establishing a clear ballistic connection.
Witnesses to the residential shootings reported seeing a dark-colored SUV fleeing the scenes of the later incidents. This vehicle description would prove significant as events unfolded.
The pattern of violence escalated tragically on February 6, 2021, when Kevin Jong, a 26-year-old Yale graduate student, was fatally shot at the intersection of Lawrence and Nicholls Street. Detectives David Zesci and Steven Cunningham arrived to find Jong's body in the street with multiple gunshot wounds, including close-range shots indicating a personal attack.
Crime Scene Evidence:
Eight .45 caliber shell casings recovered
Victim's Prius parked nearby with hazard lights activated
Minor damage to rear bumper suggesting a recent collision
Security footage capturing portions of the incident
The security footage revealed a calculated ambush. Jong's Prius had been struck from behind by a dark SUV in what appeared to be a minor collision. When Jong exited his vehicle, presumably to exchange insurance information, he was shot multiple times. Witnesses reported hearing two initial gunshots followed by six more, with one observer noting the shooter stood over Jong's already fallen body to fire additional rounds.
Laboratory analysis provided the definitive link investigators needed. The ballistic examination confirmed that all casings from the previous four residential shootings matched those found at Jong's murder scene. This evidence established that the same weapon had been used in all five incidents.
The connection raised troubling questions about target selection. While the shooter seemed methodical, the relationship between the targeted homes and Jong remained unclear. The homeowners, including educators Paul and Nae White, had no apparent connection to Jong or each other.
The investigators' discovery of the ballistic match between all five crime scenes transformed separate incidents into a linked series, setting the stage for a more focused investigation into who was responsible for this deadly pattern.
The Fatal Attack on Kevin Jiang
On February 6, 2021, at approximately 8:00 PM, Yale graduate student Kevin Jiang was shot and killed on Lawrence and Nicholls Street in New Haven. Police responding to the scene found Jiang lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body and head. Eight .45 caliber shell casings were recovered from the area.
Witnesses reported hearing a collision before the shooting. Jiang's Prius was found about 100 feet from his body with hazard lights flashing and minor damage to the rear bumper, suggesting it had been hit from behind.
According to eyewitness accounts, Jiang exited his vehicle after being rear-ended, likely to exchange insurance information. As he approached the dark-colored SUV behind him, gunshots rang out. One witness observed a person dressed in black standing over Jiang, who was already on the ground, firing additional shots.
Security footage captured parts of the incident. The video recorded the sound of the collision, followed by Jiang's exit from his vehicle. Two gunshots were heard, then a scream, followed by six more shots. The SUV then fled the scene.
The 26-year-old victim was a student at Yale's School of the Environment. An Army veteran originally from Chicago, Jiang had recently become engaged and shared his happiness on social media just a week before his death. Friends described him as a genuinely happy person who was deeply in love with his fiancée.
Investigators noticed similarities between this shooting and four previous incidents that had occurred in the area over the previous two months. All involved .45 caliber shell casings, and the fourth incident happened just one hour before Jiang's murder. In these earlier shootings, bullets were fired into occupied homes, though fortunately no one was injured.
Forensic analysis later confirmed that the shell casings from all five incidents matched, suggesting they were fired from the same weapon. Unlike the previous shootings targeting residences, the attack on Kevin Jiang appeared more personal in nature, particularly given the close-range shots and the number of times he was shot.
Kevin's Background and Personal Life
Kevin Jong was a 26-year-old graduate student at Yale University's School of the Environment. Originally from Chicago, Kevin had served in the Army before pursuing his academic career. He maintained an active lifestyle and even created fitness content, hosting his own series called "Fitness with Kevin."
Friends described Kevin as a genuinely happy person with a warm personality. His cheerful demeanor and positive outlook made him popular among his peers. Those who knew him often commented on his authentic nature and kind spirit.
In early 2021, Kevin had recently become engaged to his girlfriend Zion. According to friends, he was deeply in love with her. He frequently spoke about Zion and shared his happiness about their relationship. Just a week before his death, he had posted on Facebook expressing joy about their engagement.
Kevin lived in New Haven's East Rock neighborhood, a community near Yale University. He drove a Prius and appeared to maintain connections to both his academic community and his personal networks. His sudden death on February 6, 2021, shocked the Yale community, leaving students, faculty, and friends grieving the loss of a promising young man with a bright future ahead of him.
Eyewitness Accounts and Evidence
A string of shootings shook New Haven between December 2020 and February 2021. The incidents began on December 11, 2020, on Huntington Street when a residence was struck by multiple bullets. Though the house was occupied, no one was injured. Police recovered several .45 caliber shell casings from the scene.
Three additional shootings followed on January 15, February 5, and February 6, 2021. Each incident involved .45 caliber ammunition, and the final two featured witness descriptions of a dark-colored SUV fleeing the area. In all four cases, bullets struck occupied homes, but miraculously no residents were harmed.
The situation escalated tragically on February 6, 2021, at approximately 8:30 p.m. Kevin Jong, a 26-year-old Yale graduate student, was shot and killed at the intersection of Lawrence and Nicholls Street. Detectives David Zesi and Steven Cunningham arrived to find Jong's body on the street with multiple gunshot wounds, including close-range shots to his head showing stippling—burn patterns caused by gunpowder discharged at close proximity.
Crime scene investigators recovered eight .45 caliber shell casings at the murder scene. About 100 feet away, they found Jong's Prius parked with its hazard lights on and evidence of a minor collision on its rear bumper.
Witness Testimony Reveals Chilling Details
Multiple witnesses provided crucial information:
One witness heard a collision and saw Jong exit his Prius to approach a dark SUV
The witness then heard gunshots and saw muzzle flashes from the SUV's driver's side
Another witness observed someone dressed in black standing over Jong's fallen body, continuing to fire shots
Security footage confirmed these accounts, capturing:
The sound of a collision between vehicles
Jong's Prius stopping with the SUV behind it
Jong exiting his vehicle to approach the SUV
Two gunshots followed by a scream
Six more gunshots
The SUV driving away
The murder of Jong occurred just one hour after the fourth house shooting. Later ballistic analysis confirmed a critical connection—the shell casings from all five incidents matched, proving they were fired from the same weapon.
Paul and Nae White, victims of the third shooting, recounted their frightening experience. They were at home when bullets penetrated their window and splintered a door frame. Like the other targeted homeowners, the Whites had no apparent connection to Jong, deepening the mystery surrounding these seemingly linked violent acts.
Analyzing the Crime Scene
Upon arrival at the Lawrence and Nicholls Street intersection on February 6, 2021, detectives found Kevin Jong's body positioned on the roadway. He was lying on his right side with his feet at the stop line and his head toward the first line of the crosswalk. Eight .45 caliber shell casings were scattered nearby—one by the letter "S" on the road marking, another a few feet from the "P," and six more spread out along the first crosswalk line.
The victim displayed contact wounds to his upper body and head. Notably, detectives observed stippling—a distinctive burn pattern caused by gunpowder—on the left side of Jong's head, indicating that some shots were fired at extremely close range. This pattern suggested a personal element to the attack rather than a random shooting.
About 100 feet from the body, investigators found a Prius parked in the middle of the road with its hazard lights activated. The vehicle belonged to Kevin Jong. Crime scene technicians noted peculiar damage to the rear bumper that resembled an impression from a license plate holder, suggesting a minor collision had occurred.
Witness Accounts
Several witnesses provided crucial information:
One witness heard a collision noise and observed a Prius stopping with hazards on
They saw a dark SUV pull up behind it, then reverse toward the intersection
The Prius driver (Jong) exited his vehicle and approached the SUV
Multiple gunshots were heard with visible muzzle flashes from the driver's side of the SUV
Another witness reported:
Hearing initial gunshots and looking outside
Seeing someone dressed in black standing over a person on the ground
Witnessing additional gunshots with visible muzzle flashes
The shooter continuing to fire after the victim was already down
Video Evidence
A neighbor's security camera captured crucial elements of the incident, though much of the frame showed reflections from inside the house. The recording documented:
The collision sound between vehicles
Jong's Prius pulling into frame with an SUV behind it
The SUV reversing out of frame
Jong exiting his vehicle and walking out of frame
Two gunshots followed by a scream
Six more gunshots in succession
The SUV driving away
Unfortunately, the video quality didn't allow investigators to identify specific details about the SUV beyond its general shape and taillights.
Connected Incidents
The murder appeared linked to four previous shootings spanning December 2020 to February 2021:
December 11, 2020: Huntington Street residence hit by five gunshots
January 15, 2021: Second shooting incident
February 5, 2021: Paul and Nae White's home struck by bullets
February 6, 2021: Another residence hit by five rounds (just one hour before Jong's murder)
In each case, .45 caliber shell casings were recovered, and witnesses often described seeing a dark SUV. Laboratory analysis later confirmed that all shell casings matched those found at Jong's murder scene, establishing a definitive connection between these seemingly random incidents and the fatal shooting.
Security Footage Analysis
Our investigation into the Kevin Jong homicide revealed critical details through surveillance video. The footage, captured by a neighbor's security camera facing the street, documented the sequence of events that led to the fatal shooting on February 6, 2021, at approximately 8:00 PM.
The video shows an initial collision between Kevin's Prius and a dark SUV. Kevin's vehicle stops with hazards on, while the SUV pulls behind him before reversing toward the intersection. We can see Kevin exiting his vehicle and walking toward the SUV, presumably to exchange insurance information.
The audio component captured two initial gunshots, followed by a scream, then six more shots. Moments later, the SUV drives away from the scene. Unfortunately, the video quality wasn't sufficient to identify specific features of the SUV beyond its general shape and tail light configuration.
This footage corroborates witness statements. One witness reported hearing a collision sound, seeing Kevin approach the SUV, and then hearing gunshots with visible muzzle flashes. Another witness observed someone in all black standing over a person on the ground, continuing to fire—suggesting a troubling personal nature to the attack.
Crime scene evidence at the location matched the video timeline. Eight .45 caliber shell casings were recovered, corresponding with the number of shots heard on the recording. Kevin's body was found with contract wounds to his upper body and head, including stippling on the left side of his head indicating close-range fire.
The SUV and shell casing evidence connected this homicide to four previous shootings in the area:
December 11, 2020 (Huntington Street)
January 15, 2021
February 5, 2021 (White family residence)
February 6, 2021 (1 hour before Kevin's murder)
Laboratory analysis later confirmed all shell casings matched those found at Kevin's murder scene, providing a crucial link between these seemingly unrelated incidents.
Motive and Personal Elements of the Shooting
The shooting of Kevin Jong displayed characteristics that suggested a personal element to the crime. When investigators examined the crime scene, they noted that several shots were fired at close range, as evidenced by stippling—burn patterns caused by gunpowder—on the left side of Jong's head. This physical evidence indicated the shooter had approached Jong at very close proximity.
Witness accounts further supported the personal nature of the attack. One witness observed someone dressed entirely in black standing over Jong, who was already lying on the ground, and continuing to fire. Detectives found this particularly disturbing, as it suggested an intent beyond merely incapacitating the victim.
The method of the encounter also points to deliberate targeting. Security footage captured the initial collision between Jong's Prius and a dark SUV, followed by Jong exiting his vehicle, presumably to exchange insurance information. This scenario resembles a trap or staged accident designed to lure Jong out of his vehicle. The footage recorded two initial gunshots, a scream, and then six more shots—suggesting an execution-style killing rather than a random act of violence.
The shooting was part of a pattern of incidents involving the same weapon. Four previous shootings in the area, all using a .45 caliber firearm, had targeted occupied family homes. These incidents occurred over a two-month period between December 2020 and February 2021, with the final home shooting taking place just one hour before Jong's murder.
While investigators initially found no connection between Jong and the residents of the previously targeted homes, ballistic evidence would later confirm that all casings matched those found at Jong's murder scene. This ballistic match suggested a single perpetrator with a specific motive carrying out these attacks.
Linking the Shootings Through Ballistics
The investigation began with a series of unusual shootings in New Haven. On December 11, 2020, residents on Huntington Street reported five gunshots in the area. The house was struck multiple times, but fortunately, no one inside was injured. Police recovered multiple .45 caliber shell casings from the scene.
This was followed by three more incidents. The second shooting occurred on January 15, 2021, while the third took place on February 5th. The fourth incident happened on February 6th, where another occupied residence was struck by five rounds of gunfire. In each case, police recovered .45 caliber shell casings, establishing the first connection between these seemingly random attacks.
A dark-colored SUV was reported at the scenes of the last two shootings, adding another potential link. Police were growing increasingly concerned that these incidents would eventually result in injuries or worse.
Their fears were realized on February 6, 2021, at approximately 8:30 PM. A shooting at Lawrence and Nicholls Street claimed the life of Kevin Jong, a 26-year-old Yale graduate student. At the scene, detectives recovered eight .45 caliber shell casings.
Witness accounts and security footage revealed a disturbing sequence of events. Jong's Prius had been involved in a minor collision with a dark SUV. The footage captured Jong exiting his vehicle, presumably to exchange insurance information. As he approached the SUV, two gunshots were fired, followed by a scream and six more shots.
The crime scene revealed something deeply troubling. Detectives David Zesci and Steven Cunningham noted contract wounds to Jong's upper body and head. They observed stippling—a burn pattern caused by gunpowder—on the left side of his head, indicating shots fired at close range. Witnesses reported seeing someone in black standing over Jong's already fallen body, continuing to fire.
The forensic breakthrough came when the shell casings from all five incidents were analyzed. Laboratory tests confirmed that the .45 caliber casings recovered from the four house shootings matched those found at Jong's murder scene. This definitively linked all five incidents to the same firearm.
Despite this ballistic connection, investigators initially found no relationship between Jong and the residents of the previously targeted homes. The Whites, whose home was struck during the third shooting, had no apparent connection to Jong or the other victims.
The fourth house shooting occurred just one hour before Jong's murder, suggesting an escalating pattern of violence that culminated in the fatal encounter.
The White Family Shooting Incident
In February 2021, Paul and Nae White's residence became the third target in a series of connected shootings. The couple had just finished dinner when their peaceful evening was shattered by gunfire. Paul, who holds degrees from prestigious institutions including Yale and Harvard, was downstairs by the fire when the first bullet crashed through their window.
As the second bullet came through, Paul heard glass shattering and immediately shouted a warning to his wife. "Get down, someone's shooting!" he called out to Nae, who was upstairs taking a shower after dinner. The educator couple experienced terrifying moments as bullets continued to strike their home.
One bullet splintered the door frame, causing Nae to yell back confirming she understood the danger. Fortunately, though their home sustained damage, neither Paul nor Nae suffered any injuries during the attack. When later reflecting on the incident, both expressed feeling "absolutely" lucky to have escaped harm.
The shooting at the White residence was later connected through forensic evidence to several other incidents, including the fatal shooting of Kevin Jong. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the 45-caliber shell casings found at the White home matched those recovered at the other crime scenes. This shooting occurred on February 5, 2021, making it the third in a series of four home shootings that took place over a two-month period.
Law enforcement initially found no obvious connection between the White family and the other victims. However, the ballistic evidence eventually revealed the disturbing pattern linking these seemingly random acts of violence.
Investigating Potential Connections
The unusual pattern of shootings began on December 11, 2020, on Huntington Street in New Haven. Police responded to reports of five gunshots, finding multiple .45 caliber shell casings at a residence that had been struck several times. Fortunately, no occupants were injured.
Three more shooting incidents followed in early 2021. The second occurred on January 15, followed by a third on February 5 and a fourth on February 6. In each case, occupied homes were struck by gunfire, but remarkably, no one was injured. The connecting factor between these incidents was the consistent presence of .45 caliber shell casings at each scene.
In the last two incidents, witnesses described seeing a dark-colored SUV fleeing the area. This vehicle description would become a critical piece of evidence as the investigation developed.
The situation escalated dramatically on February 6, 2021, around 8:30 p.m. Police responded to reports of a shooting at Lawrence and Nicoll Streets in New Haven. The victim, Kevin Jong, a 26-year-old Yale graduate student, was pronounced dead at the scene. Eight .45 caliber shell casings were recovered, and multiple 911 callers reported seeing a dark SUV leaving the area.
Kevin was an Army veteran studying at Yale's School of the Environment. He had recently become engaged and frequently shared his happiness about his fiancée Zion with friends and colleagues. His social media presence showed a joyful, genuine person who connected easily with others.
When detectives David Zessin and Steven Cunningham arrived at the murder scene, they found Kevin's body in the street. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body and head, with evidence of close-range shots including stippling—a burn pattern caused by gunpowder—on the left side of his head.
Approximately 100 feet from Kevin's body, investigators found his Prius parked in the middle of the road with hazard lights activated. Crime scene technicians noticed damage to the rear bumper that resembled an impression from a license plate holder, suggesting a minor collision had occurred.
Witness statements helped detectives piece together the sequence of events:
A minor collision occurred between Kevin's Prius and a dark SUV
Kevin exited his vehicle with hazard lights on to exchange information
As he approached the SUV, gunshots were fired
A witness saw someone in black standing over Kevin's fallen body, continuing to fire
Security footage from a nearby home confirmed this account. The video captured the sound of the collision, Kevin's Prius stopping, and the SUV pulling up behind before reversing. Kevin can be seen exiting his vehicle and walking toward the SUV. Two gunshots are heard, followed by a scream and six more shots. The SUV then drives away.
The fourth shooting targeting a residence had occurred just one hour before Kevin's murder. Paul and Naeema White's home was struck by bullets while they were inside. Paul, an educator with degrees from prestigious universities including Yale, was downstairs when bullets came through their window. Naeema, a school teacher, was upstairs taking a shower. They shouted warnings to each other as bullets penetrated their home, fortunately escaping injury.
Forensic analysis later confirmed that shell casings from all four house shootings matched those found at Kevin's murder scene. While investigators initially found no apparent connection between the shooting victims, the ballistic evidence clearly linked all five incidents to the same weapon.
Ballistic Evidence and the Case Breakthrough
In December 2020, New Haven experienced the first in what would become a series of connected shootings. On December 11, police responded to reports of gunfire on Huntington Street, where they found multiple .45 caliber shell casings outside a residence struck by bullets. Fortunately, no one inside was injured.
Three additional shootings followed in early 2021: January 15, February 5, and February 6. Each incident involved occupied homes being struck by gunfire, with .45 caliber shell casings recovered at every scene. The later incidents included witness descriptions of a dark-colored SUV fleeing the area.
The pattern took a tragic turn on February 6, 2021, when 26-year-old Yale graduate student Kevin Jong was fatally shot at the intersection of Lawrence and Nicoll Street. Detectives David Zesci and Steven Cunningham arrived to find Jong's body in the street with multiple gunshot wounds. Eight .45 caliber shell casings were recovered from the scene.
Crime Scene Analysis Revealed:
Contract wounds to Jong's upper body and head
Gunpowder stippling on the left side of his head, indicating close-range fire
Jong's Prius parked nearby with hazard lights on
Impression damage on the Prius bumper suggesting a minor collision
Witness accounts and security footage painted a clear sequence of events. Jong's Prius had been struck from behind by a dark SUV. When Jong exited his vehicle to exchange information, the driver shot him multiple times. One witness described seeing a person in black standing over Jong's fallen body, continuing to fire—suggesting a personal nature to the attack.
The breakthrough came when forensic analysis confirmed that shell casings from Jong's murder matched those from the four previous shootings. Despite the apparent randomness of the earlier targets, ballistic evidence established a definitive connection between all five incidents.
Among the targeted homes was that of Paul and Nae White, where bullets had shattered windows and splintered door frames during dinner. Like other victims, the Whites had no apparent connection to Jong or any obvious motive for being targeted.
The ballistic matches provided investigators with crucial evidence linking what initially appeared to be separate incidents into a single case. The consistent use of a .45 caliber weapon and witness descriptions of a dark SUV created a pattern that would prove essential to solving Jong's murder and the related shootings.
