Alleged attack victim speaks on Wei's death, friend seeks answers

Robert Exley, who says he was stabbed multiple times by Lianyong Wei during an alleged attack on his family days before Wei died in immigration custody, said he would not have wished death on the Chinese national despite the trauma his family continues to endure.

"I am a human being, and I wouldn't want anybody to have to pass away, even somebody who did something so traumatic," Exley told Marianas Press.

"I feel that judgment should have been reserved for the justice system and our maker, not for him, not for me."

Exley and D. Karim Johnson, a friend of Wei for about five years, spoke separately to Marianas Press following new information from the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Corrections that Wei, 51, was found unresponsive with a ligature around his neck on Aug. 23.

Corrections Commissioner Anthony C. Torres said the department is treating Wei's death as an apparent suicide, although the official cause and manner of death remain subject to a medical examiner's determination and reviews by the Department of Public Safety, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and other appropriate investigative authorities.

"Based on the department's internal investigation, staff found Mr. Wei unresponsive with a ligature around his neck. The department has treated the incident as an apparent suicide," Torres said.

According to ICE, Wei had been arrested by DPS on Aug. 21 on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, disturbing the peace, assault and battery, and aggravated assault and battery following allegations that he attacked a family of five at their residence.

Exley said his family knew Wei before the incident and had previously considered him kind.

"He was never a man that we worried about being cruel. He always seemed like he was fairly kind and together," Exley said.

According to Exley, Wei came to the family's home and initially appeared friendly before pulling a pellet gun from his backpack and firing at members of the family. Exley said Wei also produced a folding knife.

Exley said he intervened to protect his family and was stabbed multiple times in the abdomen and legs. He said his wife was also cut several times and required stitches.

His children managed to get away and call 911, Exley said, while he and his wife eventually took shelter in another room.

Exley credited the quick response of DPS and particularly a responding police officer who applied a tourniquet with helping save his life.

"I feel that it was quite close to death and that I was lucky," Exley said.

He said he underwent surgery and received several units of blood following the attack.

Exley said he does not know why Wei allegedly attacked his family and declined to speculate about a possible motive.

"I have no idea what his motivation is," Exley said. "I could speculate, but it would be just speculation at this moment."

He said his family continues to deal with the psychological effects of the incident.

"We're all dealing with trauma," Exley said.

He described his feelings about Wei's subsequent death as complicated, saying that despite what allegedly happened to his family, Wei's death was not something he would have wished for.

"Please remember that there's victims to this story," Exley said.

Johnson, meanwhile, told Marianas Press that the Wei she knew was gentle and calm and that she had communicated with him shortly before his death.

Johnson said Wei appeared worried about his immigration paperwork and finding someone who could properly translate for him.

"But when I talked to him, he didn't seem angry," Johnson said.

She said she initially had difficulty believing news reports that Wei had died and attempted to message him after seeing the reports.

Johnson said the apparent suicide was not what first came to mind based on the person she knew.

"I know personally he wanted to live," Johnson said. "He had dreams. He had plans."

She said one of those plans was to create an animated YouTube language-learning channel that would teach Chinese through traditional Chinese folklore.

Johnson, however, repeatedly stressed that she did not know what happened inside the detention facility and did not want to speculate.

"I wasn't there. I don't know," she said.

Johnson also acknowledged that her observations were limited to her own friendship with Wei and that she could not speak about how he behaved in other circumstances.

"But I only know him with me," she said.

Wei was transferred to ICE custody on Aug. 22, a day after his arrest, pending removal proceedings.

Corrections staff found him unresponsive during routine checks the following morning and immediately initiated an emergency medical response. He was transported to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., where he was pronounced dead.

ICE said Wei entered the CNMI through Saipan on Feb. 6, 2019, with authorization to remain temporarily until Feb. 16, 2019, but stayed beyond that date without Department of Homeland Security authorization.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services placed Wei in removal proceedings on July 14, 2026. His next hearing had been scheduled for September.

Torres said DPS and other appropriate investigative authorities were notified at the time of Wei's death, as was ICE, and external reviews remain underway.

The Department of Corrections is also reviewing its observation, intake screening, and emergency response procedures and said it would implement any necessary corrective actions.

"The department has cooperated fully and will continue to do so," Torres said.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. The CNMI's 988 crisis services are provided through the Commonwealth Health Care Corp.'s Community Guidance Center.