Chinese actor and singer Zhang Yiyang has been executed by firing squad for the brutal murder of his underage girlfriend, marking the first time a celebrity in China has faced such a punishment.
The Intermediate People’s Court in Xianyang, North Shaanxi Province, made the announcement in July 2025, confirming that the execution took place on December 18, 2024.
Zhang was found guilty of killing his 16-year-old girlfriend in 2022 by stabbing her in the neck, severing her carotid artery, jugular vein, trachea, and esophagus, which led to her death from excessive bleeding. The couple had started dating in September 2021 but had a falling out when she attempted to end the relationship.
After committing the crime, Zhang tried to cover his tracks by taking her phone and disposing of the murder weapon and related items in a nearby reservoir. He then attempted suicide the next day in a hotel but was found by a staff member who alerted authorities.
Zhang Yiyang was known for songs such as “I Only Care About People Who Care About Me,” “So Care About You,” and “Crying Man.”