Qi Xiaolin

The deputy head of Guangzhou’s Public Security Bureau, Qi Xiaolin, was found hanged to death yesterday, Guangzhou Daily has reported on its microblog. He was 55 years old.

The deputy, who was based in Tianhe District, also had unspecified physical illnesses, news organizations have reported.

Although more details have yet to emerge, Sina Weibo is already buzzing. Some have extended their sympathies to the family. But due to the vagueness of the reasons given for the suicide, speculation is rife about why he really did it. Others have shown schadenfreude.

Here are some of the reactions:

Liberating Oreo: The people of Fujian congratulate you.

Maitian Bianyuan: (This suicide was down to) “suicide with Chinese characteristics.”

Hong Zhi’ang: Was he depressed because he was unable to lose weight?

yzwc: A hero for our times. Sacrificing himself for his comrades and his family.

Guoguo Wangshi: I hope those bastards all get depression.

Haozhu Chu Haozhu: These days, it’s said about all officials who commit suicide that they were suffering from depression.

We will bring you more as new information emerges.