Arizona State Carey Prof Arrested In Shooting Death Of His Wife

A long-time professor at Arizona State University’s business school has been arrested in the shooting death of his wife, according to news reports.

David Zhu, who has taught at the W.P. Carey School of Business since 2009, was arrested August 17 and later charged with one count of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Susan Yijuan Yan.

Yan was shot in the couple’s home in Scottsdale and later pronounced dead in an area hospital.

A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE

Zhu allegedly had a long history of domestic violence, “which included threats of murder or suicide and an increase in the frequency or intensity of incidents,” reports the Arizona Republic newspaper, citing Maricopa County superior court records.

The couple has two teenage children who were home at the time of the shooting. They reportedly told police officers Zhu and his wife were in a “screaming fight” when they heard two gunshots.

“Neither child expressed any surprise that David has shot and killed their mother,” the Republic reported, citing investigators’ reports in the records.

A DEAN’S COUNCIL DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR

According to his online CV, Zhu earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a master’s in economics from Nankai University in China. He earned his Ph.D. in strategy from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business in 2002. He became an assistant professor of management at ASU Carey later that year.

Since August 2021 he has been a professor of management and entrepreneurship at the Carey School, as well as a Dean’s Council Distinguished Scholar.

Zhu’s faculty page at the Carey School lists his expertise areas as Behavioral Strategy, Boards of Directors, CEOs, Corporate Governance, Corporate Strategy, Innovation, and Social Networks. Both the faculty page and his LinkedIn profile state that Zhu “builds on behavioral theories to examine strategic decision making of top executives and directors, innovation, Chinese management, corporate governance, and corporate strategy. He also studies the structure of corporate elite networks and resource exchange networks.”

His work has been published in such scholarly journals as the Academy of Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly, Organization Science, and Strategic Management Journal, and his research has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and Forbes.

ZHU PLACED ON LEAVE BY ASU

Zhu is being held at a Maricopa County jail on a $1 million bond. According to online jail records he faces one count of first-degree murder. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday, August 23.

If found guilty of first-degree murder, Zhu could face the death penalty, life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, or life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after 25 years.

“Our condolences go out to all those affected by this tragedy,” a university spokesperson told the Arizona Republic newspaper. “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.”

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