A tragic incident unfolded in Oberlin, Ohio, where a professor from Oberlin College, Pipo Hieu Nguyen-Duy, 64, and his wife, Tran Thi Phong, 56, were discovered fatally shot in their home. Their son, Daniel Jones, 31, has been arrested and charged with their murders.
The discovery was made on Wednesday during a welfare check by the police, who found Nguyen-Duy’s body on the first floor and Phong’s in an upstairs bedroom. Preliminary reports indicated that both individuals had suffered gunshot wounds.
Authorities identified Jones as the owner of a vehicle found earlier in the area, which was reported to be smoldering. He was located a couple of blocks away shortly after police arrived on the scene and was taken into custody without incident.
During his arraignment, Jones requested to be referred to using gender-neutral pronouns and expressed that he now goes by the name Asia Nguyen-Duy. He faces multiple charges, including six counts of murder and four counts of felonious assault, with a motive still unclear. The judge set his bond at an alarming $3 million, citing the severity of the crime.
Witnesses reported that Jones had approached a resident in the area, asking her to record a video in which he claimed to be escaping from a cult and taking full responsibility for his actions. Meanwhile, police noted that ammunition was found in Jones’ vehicle.
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of Nguyen-Duy, a respected figure at Oberlin College, where he had taught studio art and photography since 1998. The college’s president called him a “cherished colleague” whose passion for photography had a profound impact on students and faculty alike.
Nguyen-Duy, originally from Vietnam, immigrated to the U.S. as a political refugee. Throughout his career, he received numerous accolades, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, with his work exhibited in various prestigious collections worldwide.
Photo credit: Oberlin College
