December 27, 2018
Clara.cogito/Creative Commons
P.C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science at Lehigh University in Bethlehem Pennsylvania.
The Lehigh University student who allegedly tried to poison his roommate is accused by Northampton County prosecutors of attempting to flee the United States in order to avoid prosecution.
Yukai Yang, 23, is also being investigated for a potential second alleged poisoning, District Attorney John Morganelli told the Morning Call. The second alleged incident also involves a Lehigh student but no other details have been made public
Allegations of the second alleged poisoning came to light after the charges against Yang were made public last week, Morganelli said.
Yang, a senior chemistry major and a Chinese national studying at Lehigh, is charged with the attempted murder of his longtime roommate. Yang allegedly put rat poison in the food and drink of his roommate, Juwan Royal.
Yang was arrested on Dec. 20, and prosecutors told the Morning Call his family was able to post bail for him the next day.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement took Yang into custody and were going to deport him to China, which Morganelli told the Morning Call he believes was Yang’s plan to try and avoid prosecution.
“Luckily we got a heads-up on it and we were aware of it,” Morganelli said.
Yang also allegedly threatened Royal with racist graffiti this past April.
Yang is currently being held in county jail. A motive for the alleged poisoning is still unclear.
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