A Ghanaian professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIU) has died after being shot at a residence in Illinois, United States, with his wife arrested in connection with the incident.
Kofi Akamani, 48, died from his injuries after the shooting on Saturday, September 19, 2026, in Jackson County.
His wife, 35-year-old Betty Akamani, was arrested and is expected to face two counts of first-degree murder, according to a report by Heartland News.
Jackson County State’s Attorney Marsha Cascio-Hale said Betty Akamani was scheduled to appear in court on Monday, September 21, where the charges were expected to be formally filed.
The shooting occurred at about 5 p.m. at a residence on Anthony Drive, in an area between Murphysboro and Carbondale.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched to the property following a report of an active shooting.
Kofi Akamani was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale for treatment after sustaining gunshot wounds but later died from his injuries.
Cascio-Hale confirmed that Akamani was a professor at SIU, where he had been teaching forest recreation and conservation social science since 2011.
He was promoted to the rank of full professor in 2024 and also served as director of the Agricultural Sciences doctoral programme and graduate studies in forestry.
The circumstances that led to the shooting have not been disclosed by authorities, and investigators have not publicly established a motive.
Following news of his death, Jeff Harmon, SIU’s Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, expressed condolences to Akamani’s family, friends, colleagues and students.
“It is with a heavy heart that we have learned of the tragic passing of one of our faculty members, Dr Kofi Akamani. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends, colleagues, and students during this difficult time,” Harmon said.
Authorities have indicated that the investigation remains ongoing and that no further information will be released for now.
The death of Akamani has left colleagues and students at SIU mourning a professor who had spent more than a decade at the university and had risen to the rank of full professor in his field.
