In a case that has sent shockwaves through China and the world, 33-year-old actor Zhang Yiyang was executed by gunshot on December 18, 2024, after being convicted of brutally murdering his 16-year-old girlfriend.
The chilling incident, which occurred in February 2022, saw Zhang lash out violently after his girlfriend, known only as Zhang, attempted to end their toxic relationship.
A Relationship Built on Manipulation
Zhang Yiyang, a little-known actor who had starred in several TV dramas, had been involved with the teenage girl since September 2021.
However, their relationship was far from healthy. Police reports reveal that Zhang had emotionally manipulated the young girl using techniques like emotional blackmail (PUA) and suicide threats, leaving her emotionally drained and desperate to escape.
In February 2022, the girl finally gathered the courage to break up with Zhang. But Zhang, unable to accept the rejection, had other plans.
Under the guise of a “birthday celebration,” he lured her to a forest in Xingping City. There, they had another argument about their impending breakup, which quickly escalated into violence.
The Horrifying Attack
What followed was nothing short of horrifying. In a fit of rage, Zhang pulled out a folding knife and repeatedly stabbed his girlfriend in the neck.
The attack caused fatal damage to her carotid artery, trachea, and oesophagus. The young girl died on the spot from severe blood loss and suffocation.
Even more chilling, Zhang remained calm after the murder. He first stole the girl’s phone, then went home to change clothes, clean the bloodstains, and dispose of any evidence. Attempting to cover his tracks, he later tried to take his own life at a hotel.
However, hotel staff discovered him and alerted the police, which ultimately led to his arrest.
A Gruesome Crime, A Callous Attacker
Investigations into Zhang’s personality revealed a man with a controlling and paranoid nature.
His crime stemmed from years of pent-up frustration, resentment, and an inability to cope with the fact that his girlfriend had chosen to break up with him. The court found Zhang’s actions to be both cruel and without remorse.
The verdict was clear: Zhang was sentenced to death for the cold-blooded murder of a teenage girl.
Despite appealing his sentence, the appeal was rejected, and Zhang was executed by gunshot, marking him as the first actor in China’s history to face execution for such a horrific crime.
A Disturbing Post and Double Standards
Following his execution, netizens uncovered a disturbing post that Zhang made on Weibo on the same day of the crime: “No matter what happens in the future, I will love her without hesitation.”
Many were horrified by the coldness of his words, with some questioning whether Zhang had been premeditating the crime before it even happened.
Adding fuel to the fire, netizens raised concerns about why Zhang was never publicly labelled a “bad artist,” despite his horrific actions. His works were not removed from circulation, leading to accusations of double standards in the entertainment industry.
Some have also pointed out that the girl was only 15 years old when they began their relationship, which has raised troubling questions about Zhang’s intentions.
Zhang Yiyang’s death sentence and execution have shocked the public, not just for the brutality of his crime but for the chilling indifference he displayed after taking a life.
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