David Zhu, a professor at Arizona State University’s W. P. Carey School of Business, has been arrested and charged with the first-degree murder of his wife, Susan Yijuan Yan. The alleged shooting occurred at their Scottsdale home on a recent Saturday evening, creating a tragic and disturbing case that has captured significant media attention.

According to the Scottsdale Police Department, the incident unfolded around 6:30 p.m. when Zhu reportedly fired a shotgun at his wife. Yan, who was 46 years old, suffered a fatal gunshot wound and was quickly transported to a local hospital. Despite medical efforts, she was pronounced dead upon arrival. The police have indicated that the shooting took place inside the couple’s residence and that no one else was harmed during the event.

Zhu has claimed that his intention was to shoot at the wall behind his wife rather than targeting her directly. This explanation is part of the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Zhu’s account of the incident, combined with the evidence collected, will play a crucial role in determining the legal proceedings against him.

The couple’s two teenage children, a 19-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son, were present in the home during the shooting. Both children have reportedly informed police that their parents had a history of domestic violence. They described frequent and intense arguments between their parents, indicating that the shooting was not an isolated incident but rather the culmination of ongoing domestic turmoil. The children’s lack of surprise at the shooting suggests that they were familiar with the volatility of their home environment.

Following the shooting, Zhu was arrested and booked into Maricopa County Jail. A bond of $1 million has been set for his release, reflecting the severity of the charges against him. The legal process is now underway, with Zhu facing serious consequences if convicted.

David Zhu has been employed by Arizona State University since 2009, where he has been a member of the W. P. Carey School of Business’s Department of Management and Entrepreneurship. In light of the allegations and the arrest, ASU has placed him on administrative leave. The university has issued a statement expressing condolences to those affected by the tragedy and emphasizing that Zhu is prohibited from campus and university activities during the ongoing investigation and administrative review.

The university’s response includes adherence to the policies set forth by the Arizona Board of Regents and local regulations, ensuring that the personnel process is conducted with appropriate consideration given the serious nature of the charges. The university community is left to grapple with the implications of this incident, both in terms of the impact on those directly involved and the broader issues of domestic violence that it highlights.

This case not only brings to light the personal tragedy of a family but also raises important questions about the mechanisms in place for addressing domestic violence and supporting affected individuals. The ongoing investigation will seek to unravel the full extent of the circumstances leading up to the shooting and ensure that justice is served.

As the legal proceedings progress, the community remains deeply affected by the loss of Susan Yijuan Yan and the unsettling revelations about the Zhu family’s private life. The impact of this tragedy is felt not only by those who knew the victims personally but also by the wider community that is now forced to confront the realities of domestic violence and its far-reaching consequences.