A Rice University student was found shot to death in his dorm room Monday in an apparent murder-suicide, leading to a lockdown on the Houston campus on the first day of classes, authorities said.
The body of Andrea Rodriguez Avila, a junior from Maryland, was discovered by university police after a concerned family member requested a welfare check and school officials noticed she had been missing classes, Rice University Police Chief Clemente Rodriguez said. According to KTRK.
Avila and the man, who is not a student, were found in their Jones College dorm room around 4:30 p.m.
The male suspect, whose identity has not been released, suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and both men were pronounced dead at the scene.
A note found at the scene believed to have been written by the shooter indicated the two were romantically involved.
“Generally speaking, a lot has been said about their relationship, which was clearly a troubled one at the time,” Rodriguez said.
The horrifying discovery prompted a shelter-in-place order at the university and led the university to cancel classes until Tuesday.
“This is the kind of speech no president wants to give,” Rice University President Reginald Desroches told reporters in announcing Avila's death.
“I want all students, parents and the entire Rice community to know that the Rice campus is safe. There is no imminent threat and we will be embracing our students tonight. As a parent of a former Rice student, I can only imagine how devastating this must be,” Desroches said, according to the university's student newspaper. Rice thresher.
Avila's parents are scheduled to leave for Houston on Tuesday, Desroches added.
Police said they believe the shooter entered Avila's dorm as her guest because there were no signs of forced entry into her room.
Campus police said they had not received any previous calls about the couple.
School officials say counseling services will be available to any students or staff who need them.
