Brutal Attack in China Claims Father of UCLA Alumna and Former Olympian

Shocking news of a knife-attack on two Americans affiliated with the Olympics on the prestigious event's first day have local reverberations, as the victims' identities have been revealed. According to Associated Press reports, Todd Bachman and his wife Barbara were stabbed midday at the Drum Tower (pictured), a popular tourist location, by Tang Yongming, 47, from the eastern city of Hangzhou. Following the stabbings, the attacker committed suicide by leaping from the second level where the incident took place. Mr. Bachman died from his wounds, and Mrs. Bachman was hospitalized with injuries. The status of their Chinese tour guide, who was also a victim of the attack, is not clear.

The Bachmans were in Beijing to support their son-in-law, Hugh McCutcheon, who is the U.S. Men's Volleyball coach. McCutcheon's wife is Elisabeth Bachman, who played for the US Women's Volleyball team in the 2004 Athens Olympics, and was a standout player for UCLA from 1996-2000. While at UCLA she majored in Communication and minored in Education and led the Bruins with multiple accomplishments on the volleyball court.

According to the Associated Press, violent attacks like the stabbing of the Bachmans are extremely unusual in China, particularly with the heightened security present due to the Olympics. The motive for the attack is unknown, and reports state that the Bachmans were not wearing any apparel that would immediately identify them as being American.

Photo of the Drum Tower by mkools via Flickr