American Marine Biologist Shot Dead During Home Invasion in Philippines

Kent Carpenter, a 73-year-old American marine biologist, was shot dead in the head inside a house in Sibulan, Negros Oriental province, on Sunday night, @CBSNews reported. Three masked men forced entry, and one drew a gun and fired, according to his companion's account to police. The men took a laptop, an unspecified amount of cash and a backpack before fleeing.

Carpenter's Filipina companion sustained unspecified injuries and was receiving medical treatment, regional police spokesperson Lt. Col. Joem Malong said. National police spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co confirmed the details of the theft and shooting.

Investigators were trying to determine the motive and identify the attackers. Carpenter had worked as a lecturer at Silliman University in Dumaguete City since 1976 and had been a biological sciences professor at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, since 1996. He was on an extended research assignment in the Philippines and planned to retire in September, the university said.

His research focused on biodiversity in the Philippines' Verde Island Passage and the Coral Triangle. Old Dominion University President Brian Hemphill said Carpenter dedicated his career to expanding understanding of the world's bodies of water and protecting vulnerable ecosystems.

Silliman University described him as an exceptional scientist who made ground-breaking contributions to global understanding of Philippine marine biodiversity.

The U.S. Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Regional police director Brig. Gen. Romano Cardiño said the case was being treated with utmost urgency.