The Ross Township Police Department is investigating the alleged murder-suicide of a Pitt professor who had been working on a project related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bing Liu

According to the Post-Gazette, police believe a man shot Liu inside his home multiple times. That same man, who has yet to be identified, was found dead in a nearby car from an apparent self-inflicted wound. A potential motive isn’t yet clear, and the investigation is ongoing.

The Computational and Systems Technology statement described Liu as an “outstanding researcher who has earned the appreciation of many colleagues in the field and made unique contributions to science.”

Bing, who earned his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in Computer Science at the National University of Singapore, 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,” according to the release. He has worked at Pitt since 2014 and prior to that was a post-doctoral fellow in the computer science department at Carnegie Mellon University.

“His loss will be felt throughout the entire scientific community,” the release said. “We will make an effort to complete what he started in an effort to pay homage to his scientific excellence.”

The University also issued a statement: “The University of Pittsburgh is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Bing Liu, a prolific researcher and admired colleague at Pitt. The University extends our deepest sympathies to Liu’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time.”

The statement also pointed faculty and staff colleagues and students to support options. LifeSolutions, the faculty and staff assistance program, is available 24/7 by calling 866-647-3432. Online and digital services and resources for students are available by contacting the University Counseling Center at 412-648-7930, ext. 1.