Screenshot of the police report released by the Chaoyang branch of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau on September 21, 2025.

The Chaoyang branch of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau released a police report on Sunday regarding the incident involving a person surnamed Yu, who accidentally fell to his death after drinking. Three individuals who fabricated and spread rumors have been subjected to compulsory measures by the public security authorities in accordance with the law, according to police report.

Since the launch of a special campaign for cleaning up the cyberspace in 2025, the public security authorities have continuously cracked down on online rumors, effectively maintaining the online environment. Recently, a man surnamed Yu, 37 years old, fell to his death after drinking, and some individuals, seeking attention and online traffic, fabricated and spread false information online, creating and editing fake videos, which seriously disrupted public order, according to the police report.

In one case, a 40-year-old female, surnamed Zheng, fabricated a rumor claiming that “Yu was set up by others and jumped off the building.” After seeing the news of Yu’s death online, she spread the rumor in a popular topic comment section, claiming, “The big shot wanted to take advantage of him, and the lackey set up a trap for the big shot. After being drunk and assaulted, he couldn’t take it anymore and jumped off a building.” This caused a severe social impact, according to the police report.

Another female, 29, surnamed Yuan, spread a rumor that “Yu was hung from a high building, had his nails pulled out, was disemboweled, and then thrown off the building.” She sought attention without any moral boundaries, causing mental distress to the family and resulting in a serious social impact, according to the police report.

In the third case, a 41-year-old female surnamed Xu fabricated a rumor during conversations with others, claiming, “The surveillance was deliberately destroyed, and there are significant forces behind this; now Yu’s mother and sister are being controlled.” She shared screenshots of these conversations on her personal social media account, causing a severe social impact, according to the police report.

All three individuals have confessed to their actions of fabricating rumors and have been subjected to compulsory measures by the public security authorities. Additionally, related individuals who spread rumors such as “Yu was pushed out of the window,” “Yu was abused before falling,” and “Yu’s mother was violently driven away by the agency” have also been dealt with by the authorities, said the police report.

Following Yu’s accidental fall after drinking, the public security authorities promptly initiated an investigation. Through on-site inspections, forensic examinations, interviews, and video surveillance, they ruled out any criminality and have informed the family of the investigation results, to which the family has no objections. Yu’s mother also issued a statement through the Weibo account of Yu’s working studio, said the report.

The internet is not a lawless place. The public security authorities urge all netizens not to create or spread rumors, and hope everyone respect the family’s wishes, protect personal privacy, and avoid causing the family further emotional distress. The public security authorities will combat and handle any illegal activities related to the fabrication and dissemination of rumors in accordance with the law.

Global Times