VIRUS DEATH RIDDLE
Chinese coronavirus researcher, 37, ‘on verge of COVID breakthrough’ is shot dead in Pittsburgh ‘murder-suicide’
A CHINESE coronavirus researcher who was "on the verge" of making a breakthrough in the pandemic fight has been killed in a suspected murder-suicide.
Dr Bing Liu, 37, was found dead in his home on Saturday from multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head, according to cops.
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The body of a second man, Hao Gu, 46, was found in a nearby car in Ross Township, according to .
Cops believe Gu died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
"The males are known to each other," police said.
"Investigative leads developed throughout the weekend have led us to believe that the male from the car shot and killed the man in the townhome before returning to his own car and taking his own life."
Ross Township Detective Brian Kolhepp told : "We haven't had anything at this point that has come to the investigation that has anything to do with Mr. Liu's employment or his research."
Gu is believed to have entered Dr Liu's house through an unlocked door before opening fire, hitting him in the head, neck and body.
The victim's wife was not home at the time of the suspected murder, according to the .
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Dr Liu was a research assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Medicine with an expertise in "computational modeling and analysis of biological systems dynamics."
The school said he was an "outstanding" and "prolific" researcher who stood out during the crisis.
“He was just starting to obtain interesting results," Ivet Bahar, the head of the computational and system biology department, told the Post-Gazette.
"He was sharing with us, trying to understand the mechanism of infection, so we will hopefully continue what he was doing.”
The university said in a : "Bing was on the verge of making very significant findings toward understanding the cellular mechanisms that underlie SARS-CoV-2 infection and the cellular basis of the following complications."
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"We will make an effort to complete what he started in an effort to pay homage to his scientific excellence."
The school noted that he co-authored at least 30 publications, including four in 2020, and a book.
"He was patient, intelligent, and extremely mature," the university wrote.
"We will miss him very much."
He "was an excellent mentor," the school said, and "generously" shared his time and knowledge with younger scientists.
Officials said "his loss will be felt throughout the entire scientific community."
"Please keep his family, friends, and colleagues in your thoughts."
Dr Lui's death came as:
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Originally from China, Dr Liu received his Bachelor of Science and PhD in Computer Science at the National University of .
He did his postdoctoral studies at Carnegie Mellon University in the .
He had recently been promoted to a Research Assistant Professor position at the University of Pittsburgh.
Cops did not say how Dr Liu and Gu knew each other, and have not speculated on possible motives.
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