Tragedy marred the first day of classes at Rice University in Texas, where a student was found dead in a suspected murder-suicide, allegedly carried out by a person she’d been dating.
The body of Andrea Rodriguez Avila, a junior from Maryland, was discovered on Monday inside a dorm in Jones College, a residence hall on the Houston campus, the Austin-American Statesman reported. There were no signs of forced entry, according to school officials.
Rice University police responded to the room after they were contacted by Avila’s family, who requested they perform a wellness check, according to Rice University Police Chief Clemente Rodriguez. They said they had not been able to get in touch with Avila and officers later learned she did not attend any of her classes for the day.
Officers found Avila shot to death inside her dorm around 4:30 p.m. Police said there was a second person — an unidentified man who does not appear to be affiliated with the university — dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They were both pronounced dead on the scene.
The suspect’s name has not been released. Rodriguez said he may be from Florida.
Based on a note recovered by investigators, which was seemingly penned by the shooter, police believe the man shot Avila before turning the firearm on himself, CNN reported. Rodriguez said the letter also suggested the pair were involved in “a troubled relationship.”
“They were dating,” he told reporters.
The grisly incident prompted a shelter-in-place order, which was lifted just after 7 p.m. Classes and activities were also canceled Monday evening through Tuesday, though the campus has been left open for students who wanted to come together and grieve, said Rice University President Reginald DesRoches. Counseling is also available.
DesRoches confirmed Avila’s death Monday night.
“This is a speech that no president ever wants to make,” DesRoches said. “Tonight, I want all of our students, our parents and the entire Rice community to know that the Rice campus is safe and there is no immediate threat, and tonight we will wrap our arms around our students.”
