Full Breakdown
Double Shooting Claims Life of Beloved Oberlin Professor and His Wife; Son Charged with Murder
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Fatal Incident and Immediate Response
On the morning of October 28, 2026, Oberlin Police responded to a vehicle fire in the Conservatory parking lot and located the vehicle’s registered owner, 31-year-old Daniel Jones of Ashland, Oregon, in the 200 block of Shipherd Circle. Officers took Jones into custody and, minutes later, entered a residence on South Pleasant Street for a welfare check. Inside they found two victims with multiple gunshot wounds: 64-year-old professor Pipo Nguyen-Duy and his wife, identified as 56-year-old Tran Thi Phong. The scene was secured, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the campus, and later lifted after police confirmed no ongoing threat.
02
Background & Context
Nguyen-Duy, a Vietnamese-born political refugee, taught studio art and photography at Oberlin College since 1998 and earned a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2011.
Visual evidence
Images from the story
03
Timeline of Key Events
Swipe across the table to see all columns.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| October 28, 2026 | Police respond to vehicle fire; locate Jones; discover double homicide. |
| October 29, 2026 | Jones arraigned; bond set at $3 million; case bound over to Lorain County Common Pleas Court. |
04
Charges, Legal Proceedings, and Evidence
The Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office filed six counts of murder, four counts of second-degree felonious assault, and one count of tampering with evidence. Bail was set at $3 million. Police have not recovered the firearm, but a cardboard box containing a wallet, passport, suitcase, keys, and packaging for a 17-round Glock magazine was found in the suspect’s smoldering Toyota hatchback.
05
Official Statements & Responses
College spokesperson Carmen Twillie Ambar called the tragedy “intrusive” and expressed concern for the community’s emotional well-being. Oberlin Police confirmed there was no continuing danger after Jones was taken into custody.
06
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is a deeply challenging moment for our campus. I am writing to share the tragic news of the violent passing of Pipo Nguyen-Duy, a beloved professor of studio art and photography at Oberlin for many years. He was one of two people discovered at the scene.” — Carmen Twillie Ambar, Oberlin College president
- “He told her that he did not want the police involved,” — Prosecutor Zachary Simonoff
- “Officers went there and found two people dead apparently from gunshot wounds with blood throughout the house,” — Prosecutor Zachary Simonoff
07
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on several details:
- Victim’s age – Most outlets list Tran Thi Phong as 56; one report describes the female victim as a 47-year-old unnamed woman.
- Suspect’s age – The New York Post cites the suspect as 32, while most other sources state he is 31.
- Weapon recovery – Police have not located the firearm; only ammunition and magazine packaging have been recovered.
08
Campus Impact and Ongoing Support
After the shelter-in-place order, Oberlin resumed normal class schedules, adjusting studio-art courses to accommodate counseling needs. The college announced memorial gatherings and ongoing mental-health resources for students, faculty, and staff.
The case remains under investigation, with a grand-jury review scheduled in Lorain County Common Pleas Court.