A tragic incident unfolded on Monday at Rice University in Houston, Texas, when a student was discovered dead in her dorm room, the victim of an apparent murder-suicide. The deceased student, Andrea Rodriguez Avila, a junior from Maryland, was found by campus police after a family member requested a wellness check due to her absence from class.
Avila and an unidentified male, who was not a student at the university, were discovered in her dorm room at Jones College around 4:30 p.m. Both had suffered gunshot wounds, with the male’s wound appearing to be self-inflicted. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
A note found at the scene, believed to have been written by the male, suggested that he and Avila had been involved in a romantic relationship. The note indicated that their relationship was troubled at the time of the incident.
The shocking discovery led to a campus-wide lockdown and the cancellation of classes through Tuesday. Rice University President Reginald DesRoches addressed the incident in a press conference, expressing his condolences and assuring the university community of their safety.
DesRoches emphasized that there was no immediate threat to the campus and pledged to provide support to the student body. He also expressed his empathy as a parent of a former Rice student, acknowledging the devastating impact of the incident.
Avila’s parents were expected to arrive in Houston on Tuesday. According to the police, there was no evidence of forced entry into Avila’s room, leading them to believe that the shooter had been invited in by Avila.
Campus police reported that they had not received any previous calls or complaints regarding the couple. The university has made counseling services available to students and staff in need.