PITTSBURGH — The Allegheny County medical examiner Friday released the names of a Carnegie Mellon University student and employee found shot in an apparent murder-suicide in a Pittsburgh apartment.
The 26-year-old student was identified as Chalalai Chaihirunkarn, and the man was identified as 29-year-old Bryan Springer.
Chaihirunkarn was a Ph.D. student at CMU, and Springer was an employee at the Software and Engineering Institute at CMU.
The medical examiner's office said they lived together in the apartment at the Sherwood Towers on North Craig Street, where city police found their bodies around 1:45 p.m. Thursday.
Police had been asked to check on the woman's welfare by friends who hadn't seen her for days.
Autopsies were scheduled for Friday, though investigators say it appears Springs shot the woman before shooting himself.
“It looks like the occupants of that apartment died of gunshot wounds at this time,” said Pittsburgh police Cmdr. Rashal Brackney.
According to friends, the couple's relationship was troubled; however, there did not appear to be any signs of a struggle.
Investigators said Springer purchased the weapon and ammunition from Iron City Armory in Bridgeville. Surveillance video from the store shows Springer making the purchase.
“My first question to everyone who walks in here is, ‘What is your intention?’” said Jason Doetzer, who sold the gun to Springer. “He was interested in shooting sport, going to the range.”
Doetzer said there was nothing unusual about Springer.
“It was like any other customer. Guy walks in and said he was new to the shooting sport,” said Doetzer.
According to Doetzer, Springer even showed interest in taking classes, and after passing a background check, he left with the gun.
Two days later, Chaihirunkarn and Springer were found dead inside the apartment building, which is off campus, but near the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon campuses.
“It's pretty amazing. It’s a quiet building with a lot of grad students -- I'm a grad student,” said Benjamin Goldrich. “Other than that, there are some elderly residents. It’s pretty amazing, I mean, it's pretty safe here.”