ULM Professor dies in alleged murder-suicide in Mer Rouge

MOREHOUSE PARISH, La. (KTVE/KARD) — An assistant professor at ULM died on Sunday night in Mer Rouge.

According to Morehouse Parish Sheriff Mike Tubbs, 39-year-old Joshua Comer was murdered and the alleged suspect is his father-in-law, 68-year-old Jack Matthews. Comer died from gunshot wounds while Matthews died by suicide.

Sheriff Tubbs says that it appears an altercation took place before the shooting. The bodies of both Comer and Matthews have been sent to Little Rock for autopsy.

According to ULM’s student-run newspaper The Hawkeye, Comer was the assistant professor of communication and the communication program director at ULM. Comer began teaching at ULM in the fall of 2017. He is survived by his wife Cheyanne Comer.

ULM President Ronald Berry, D.B.A., has issued a statement extending sympathies to Comer’s family and students.

“The ULM family is shocked and saddened by the loss of Dr. Joshua Comer. Christine and I offer our heartfelt and deepest sympathies to his family and his many students and colleagues,” Berry said. “Josh had a significant impact on his students and was a campus leader in communication technology. His enthusiasm, warmth, and kindness will be greatly missed.”

We will continue to update this article as more information becomes available.