A former student of Lehigh University charged with poisoning a roommate

A former student of Lehigh University, accused earlier this year of leaving racist graffiti for his roommate in their dorm room , now faces accusations that he attempted to poison

Yukai Yang, a 22-year-old foreign student from China, surrendered himself on Thursday and was charged with attempting of homicide, aggravated assault, common assault and reckless endangerment, said Northampton District Attorney John Morganelli Thursday.

The chemical commander reportedly sickened his roommate, 22-year-old Juwan Royal, for a few months with small amounts of thallium and possibly other chemicals, Morganelli said at the time. a press conference. Thallium is a colorless, odorless and tasteless toxic metal that can be fatal if consumed.

"At first, Mr. Royal was as stunned as everyone else, because he thought he had a pretty cordial relationship as a roommate," District Attorney Abe Kassis said.

Royal told police in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania In 1965, he had drunk a bottle of water in his room and felt himself burning in his mouth.

Yang allegedly mixed the chemicals with his roommate's food, drinks and mouthwash.

Royal became ill several times in March. The symptoms, including dizziness, tremors and vomiting, have gradually worsened, Morganelli said. Royal's blood was positive for this chemical and treated for thallium poisoning.

Yang was made aware of Royal's illness at a follow-up interview in May, a month after being separately charged with ethnic intimidation, institutional vandalism and criminal mischief. Authorities said they scribbled a racial epithet on a desk in their room.

He admitted to having purchased various chemicals with the intention of injuring himself if he did not sit well on exams and told the police that he had mixed them up with food and drink stored in their common refrigerator.

"The Lehigh University Police Department has worked closely with the District Attorney's Office in the investigation and will continue to do so," said a spokesperson for the District Attorney's Office. school at NBC News, noting that Yang was no longer enrolled as a student. . "From the beginning, our concern has been the health and safety of the victim of these alleged behaviors and, as such, Lehigh staff and faculty have provided support, services and assistance."