Chinese researcher on the verge of making 'very significant' Coronavirus findings is killed in murder-suicide

Dr Bing Liu, a research assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh's Medical Center's Computational and Systems Biology Department, has been shot dead inside the home he shared with his wife in Pittsburgh.

The well respected 37 year old researcher was alone at his home in the 200 block of Elm Court in Ross Township on Saturday afternoon when another man known as Hao Gu - allegedly entered the residence through an unlocked door and opened fire striking him in the head, neck and torso with bullets.

His wife was not home at the time of the homicide, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. 

Pittsburgh Police said Gu then returned to his car parked 100 yards away at Charlemagne Circle and shot himself.

According to Pittsburgh police, Liu and his alleged killer Gu knew each other prior to the murder-suicide, but the nature of their relationship is unknown.

Dr Ivet Bahar, head of the Computational and Systems Biology Department, told the Post-Gazette that Liu had only recently begun researching COVID-19.

He joined UPMC six years ago and went on to co-author a book and more than 30 publications.

A statement has been released by his employer, UPMC's Computational and Systems Biology Department, announcing his untimely death .

'Bing was on the verge of making very significant findings toward understanding the cellular mechanisms that underlie SARS-CoV-2 [COVID-19] infection and the cellular basis of the following complications,' the statement read. 'We will make an effort to complete what he started in an effort to pay homage to his scientific excellence.'

"Dr. Bing Liu was an outstanding researcher, who has earned the respect and appreciation of many colleagues in the field, and made unique contributions to science,' the statement said.