Father of former Bruin volleyball player killed in Beijing

In a stunning and tragic event, Todd and Barbara Bachman, parents of a former Bruin volleyball player and the in-laws of the current U.S. men's volleyball coach, were attacked Saturday in Beijing. Todd Bachman died of stab wounds, and his wife remains hospitalized in serious condition.

The incident happened shortly after noon at the 13th century Drum Tower, a landmark five miles from the Olympic village in a neighborhood of lakes, restaurants and bars popular with tourists. The attacker stabbed his victims, then jumped from the tower's second story, about 130 feet above street level, killing himself. He acted alone, the U.S. Olympic Committee added in a statement, quoting Beijing police.

The identity card of the Chinese man listed him as Tang Yongming, 47, from the eastern province of Zhejiang, according to the official New China News Agency.

The couple's tour guide also was attacked but not seriously injured.

The Bachmans' daughter, Elisabeth "Wiz" Bachman, was named to the 2004 Olympic team while she was a senior at UCLA; she is married to Hugh McCutcheon, the U.S. men's coach. Statements and reactions by UCLA coaches can be found on The Times' Olympics blog.

—Tony Pierce

Comments

[amanda]

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[pk-mesa]

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