Rice University Student Dies in Apparent Murder-Suicide, Prompting Campus-Wide Lockdown on First Day of Classes, Police Report
Rice University Student Dies in Apparent Murder-Suicide, Prompting Campus-Wide Lockdown on First Day of Classes, Police Report
A Rice University student was found dead in her dorm room on Monday in what authorities are treating as a murder-suicide, leading to a nearly two-hour campus lockdown on the first day of classes, according to police and university officials.
The victim, Andrea Rodriguez Avila, a junior, was discovered by university police following a wellness check requested by a concerned family member after she missed class, said Rice University Police Chief Clemente Rodriguez.
The suspected shooter, an unidentified male who does not appear to be associated with the university, was also found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the same room. Investigators believe he shot Avila before taking his own life, based on a note left at the scene which suggested they were involved in a troubled romantic relationship.
“This is a speech that no president ever wants to make,” said Rice University President Reginald DesRoches. “Tonight, I want all of our students, parents, and the entire Rice community to know that the Rice campus is safe and there is no immediate threat. We will support our students through this difficult time.”
The shooter is believed to have entered Jones College, where Avila resided, with her. There were no signs of forced entry into the dorm room, university officials reported earlier.
The discovery of the bodies led to a campus-wide lockdown starting around 5:40 p.m. CT, which resulted in the cancellation of all remaining classes and activities for the day. The lockdown was lifted at 7:18 p.m.
The investigation is being led by the Rice University Police Department with support from the Houston Police Department. Jones College, where Avila lived, is one of the 11 residential colleges at Rice University, where students are randomly assigned and remain throughout their undergraduate years.
Avila’s parents are in contact with the university and are expected to arrive in Houston on Tuesday, DesRoches said.
