Todd Bachman, Father-In-Law Of US Men’s Volleyball Coach Hugh McCutcheon, Was Attacked And Killed In China

What was a jovial atmosphere after the opening ceremonies of the Olympic games, is now a tragic day in China. A 47 year old man named Tang Yongming attacked three people outside of Beijing’s “Drum Tower” yesterday, leaving one American man dead, another American women seriously injured and their Chinese tour guide injured. The attacker proceeded to kill himself after the attack by leaping off of the historical site, plunging to his death.
Reports from the Associated Press confirm that the two people attacked connected to the US volleyball were Todd Bachman and Barbara Backman. Todd Bachman was the father of a former Olympian, Elisabeth Bachman, who is married to Hugh McCutcheon, the coach of the Men’s volleyball team. Barabara Bachman is reported to have suffered severe injuries, but no other reports have been released. Coincidentally, locals around the “Drum Tower” have gone silent over the incident.

Locals at the many restaurants and shops in the area claimed not to have seen the incident or to know anything about it, raising speculation that they had been ordered not to speak to foreign journalists by the police. The Chinese authorities appear determined to bury any “bad news” during the Games.
“No country is a 100% safe. These things can happen anywhere,” Ge Sang Lamu Cuo, the owner of a nearby Tibetan handicrafts shop told The Sunday Telegraph.

There is still no motive, but we’ll keep you updated as news surfaces. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Chinese Man Kills Relative of U.S. Olympic Coach [NY Times]
Beijing Olympics: Chinese man ‘murders US tourist’ [Telegraph]
American tourist slain in Beijing [Seattle Times]