Duquesne University professor killed in apparent murder-suicide in Wilkins Township

WILKINS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Two people are dead after an apparent murder-suicide in Wilkins Township on Tuesday, according to Allegheny County police.

A news release said Allegheny County 911 received a call from a third party asking for police to check on a couple in the middle of a violent domestic situation in their home on Thorncrest Drive.

The caller was unable to reach the male resident and learned that the male had been stabbed. The female was still inside the residence with a firearm.

Wilkins Township police and neighboring departments responded to the scene.

Officers did not receive a response from inside the home and requested the assistance of Allegheny County SWAT.

SWAT entered the home and found a 59-year-old man and 50-year-old woman deceased. Both the man and woman appeared to have laceration wounds and the woman had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Channel 11 has learned the man who died was Marinus Iwuchukwu, a professor of religious studies at Duquesne University.

Duquesne sent us a statement saying he’d been with the university since 2008 and added, in part:

“This is a tragedy for all involved and our thoughts and prayers are with Professor Iwuchukwu’s colleagues, students, friends, and loved ones.”

Neighbors say they are still in shock.

“He was a very nice guy,” neighbor Carl Mosley tells Channel 11. “Always pleasant conversations. He’d always smile and laugh. I’d come out and cut our yard and he’d come out and cut his. She seemed nice, too. You just wouldn’t think on this street.”

Homicide detectives are handling the investigation. The Medical Examiner has not yet released the name of the woman involved.

Anyone with any information is asked to call police at 1-833-ALL-TIPS.

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