Columbus Double Murder: Dentist and Wife Slain as Children Hide; Manhunt Intensifies
A Columbus dentist and his wife were shot dead at home while their two children hid; police are hunting for a masked intruder seen fleeing in a dark SUV.
Two Dead, One at Large After Nighttime Attack in Quiet Columbus Home
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A search is intensifying for the gunman who burst into a suburban residence late Monday night and fatally shot a well-known local dentist and his wife while their two young children hid in an adjoining room, police said.
Officers were dispatched at 11:42 p.m. to the 2800 block of Fairway Oaks Drive after a 9-year-old boy called 911 whispering that “a man with a mask hurt Mommy and Daddy.” Responding units found Dr. Kevin Liu, 42, and his wife, Angela Liu, 39, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the first-floor living area. Paramedics pronounced both dead at the scene.
Children Survived, Traumatized
The couple’s two children — the 9-year-old boy and his 6-year-old sister — were physically unharmed but “clearly traumatized,” Sgt. David Rector told reporters. “They heard arguing, then pops. They hid in a closet until police arrived.” Detectives believe the intruder knew the layout of the home and targeted the couple specifically, though no clear motive has emerged.
“We’re asking anyone who saw a dark SUV speeding away from the area after midnight to call us,” Rector said. “Someone out there knows why this house was chosen.”
Community Reels as Manhunt Expands
By dawn, yellow crime-scene tape fluttered around the two-story colonial as neighbors gathered across the street, clutching coffee cups and wiping away tears. Dr. Liu ran a popular dental practice on North High Street; Angela Liu volunteered with the PTA at Barrington Elementary.
- FBI agents joined Columbus homicide detectives to comb nearby woods for surveillance footage.
- A $25,000 reward is offered for tips leading to an arrest.
- Police released a grainy doorbell image of a suspect in a dark hoodie and surgical gloves, asking the public to zoom in on “a distinctive limp.”
Mayor Andrew Ginther called the killings “a brazen assault on the fabric of our neighborhoods” and vowed to add patrols city-wide until the shooter is caught.
What Happens Next
Autopsies are scheduled for Wednesday morning. Detectives are poring through Dr. Liu’s financial records, recent patient files, and any domestic-related calls to the residence. Meanwhile, counselors are at the children’s school to help classmates process the tragedy.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS. Tipsters may remain anonymous and still collect the cash reward.