Suspect In Custody In Connection With Urbana Homicide

Police say a University of Illinois student was killed in her apartment on Friday, a few blocks away from the Urbana campus.

The Urbana Police Department said it learned that the victim’s ex-boyfriend Yonfei Ci, 29, forced his way into the apartment, located on the 1343 Block of North Lincoln. Lt. Bryant Seraphin told The (Champaign) News-Gazette that the victim's roommate was in the apartment when Ci allegedly killed the victim.

The university police issued alerts to students and faculty, but the campus was not locked down. According to authorities, police from Champaign and Urbana took Ci into custody at a motel located at 1212 W. Anthony in Champaign after he surrendered to police.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.  The Urbana Police Department is being assisted by University of Illinois Police Department, the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, the Champaign County Coroner’s Office, and the Champaign County State’s Attorneys Office. 

Seraphin did not say how the woman was killed. An autopsy on the victim, who has not been identified, is pending.