Pipo Nguyen-Duy, Oberlin professor, found dead in home

Two people were found shot dead inside a home in Oberlin, Ohio, on Wednesday. The victims include Pipo Nguyen-Duy, a 64-year-old professor of studio art and photography, and a 47-year-old woman. Oberlin police confirmed the discovery during the morning hours.

The sequence began around 8:57 a.m. when police responded to the Oberlin College Conservatory lot. Fire crews were on site to assist with a vehicle that was smoking and possibly on fire. Officers worked to locate the owner of that vehicle. By 10:19 a.m., they found the suspect in the 200 block of Shipherd Circle and took the individual into custody.

Ninety minutes after the initial call, officers moved to 33 South Pleasant Street to check on the suspect's family. Upon arrival, they discovered two bodies. Nguyen-Duy was found on the first floor of the house. The 47-year-old woman was found on the second floor.

Carmen Twillie Ambar, the president of Oberlin College, addressed the campus community following the news. In a statement, she described Nguyen-Duy as a beloved professor who had served the institution for many years. Ambar noted that police requested the college issue a shelter-in-place order. That order was lifted after officers confirmed there was no danger to the campus or the surrounding community.

The statement outlined Nguyen-Duy's background and career. He was a native of Vietnam who immigrated to the United States as a political refugee in 1975. He became an internationally exhibited artist and earned a Guggenheim Fellowship. He taught at Oberlin starting in 1998. Ambar called him a cherished colleague and a vibrant presence in the classroom.

The incident remains under investigation by Oberlin police. The college has made mental health resources available to students, faculty, and staff affected by the deaths. No further details were released as of the latest update.