A renowned Arizona State University professor accused of fatally shooting his wife with a shotgun alleged he was "trying to shoot the wall" when he killed her, said police.
David Zhu, a professor at the university's W.P. School of Business, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of 46-year-old Susan Yijuan Yan at their Scottsdale, Arizona home, police said, according to the KSAZ-TV and the Arizona Republic.
Yan was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after she was shot.
The couple's two teenaged children, a 14-year-old boy and 19-year-old girl, told police they witnessed the deadly Saturday night shooting, which they alleged was preceded by a "screaming fight" between their parents, the paper reported, citing court records.
"Neither child expressed any surprise that David had shot and killed their mother" as they witnessed "frequent domestic violence between their parents over many years," the records stated, according to KPNX-TV.
One of the teens ran to a neighbor's house to call 911. Zhu also called police and allegedly confessed the shooting was "accidental."
"I was trying to shoot the wall behind her," he later explained during police questioning, the outlet reported.
ASU has since placed Zhu on administrative leave pending investigation.
"Our condolences go out to all those affected by this tragedy," a university spokesperson said in a statement to the outlet. "Zhu is being placed on administrative leave and barred from coming to campus or participating in any ASU activities, while the university proceeds with the personnel process, according to applicable Arizona Board of Regents and local policies."
Zhu is being held on $1 million bond, jail records show. It's unclear if he entered a plea.
