Alabama University’s ‘killer’ biology professor shot brother dead 24 years ago

LOS ANGELES - A biology professor, who went on a killing spree at the University of Alabama’s Huntsville campus after being turned down for a permanent job, had shot dead her brother 24 years ago.

Amy Bishop, 42, was charged with murder of three after she allegedly opened fire at fellow lecturers during a faculty meeting on Friday, The Times reports.

Three biology professors died and three other members of staff were injured, two critically. If convicted, Bishop could face execution by lethal injection.

According to Boston police, more than 20 years ago, she had shot dead her brother but faced no charges. She had fired three shots in the family home in the suburb of Braintree, one of which hit and killed her brother, Seth, in 1986.

Bishop’s husband Jim Anderson has also been arrested by police, and he could be heard saying: “It didn’t happen there’s no way.”

Bishop had been rejected for tenure, a position that brings almost complete job security to American academics, and had lost an appeal.

The Harvard-educated neuroscientist, who invented an award-winning cell growth incubator with her husband, had been telling friends she was increasingly worried about her failure to obtain tenure.

Sammie Lee Davis, whose wife Maria Ragland Davis was one of the victims, said he was told that his wife had mentioned Bishop as a woman who was unable “to deal with reality” and was “not as good as she thought she was”.

Many students were critical of Bishop, who had joined the university as an assistant professor in 2003.

“When it came down to tests and people asked her what was the best way to study, she’d just tell you, ‘Read the book.’ When the test came there were just ridiculous questions. No one even knew what she was asking,” Amanda Tucker, a nursing student, said.

“She’s well known on campus, but I wouldn’t say she’s a good teacher. She’s a genius, but she really just can’t explain things,” Andrea Bennett, another nursing student said. (ANI)