Rice University shooting today: Andrea Rodriguez Avila killed at Jones College; suspect dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound

HOUSTON– A student at Rice University in Texas was shot dead on Monday by a man with whom authorities said she had been in a “relationship.”

University police responded to a request for a welfare check around 4:30 p.m. local time and found the student, identified as Andrea Rodriguez Avila, dead in her room. Police also discovered an “unidentified male with a self-inflicted gunshot wound who was not a member of the Rice community,” school president Reginald DesRoches told media.

According to Houston police, the shooting occurred at Jones College, one of the eleven dormitories on campus.

In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Rice University said its police department was investigating the possible murder and urged all students, faculty and staff to stay home.

Rice Police Chief Clemente Rodriguez confirmed that police found a note “written by the suspect” at the scene, leading them to believe the man shot Avila.

“In general, a lot of it was about their relationship, and obviously they had a troubled relationship at the time,” he said of the letter, adding that officials believed it was a “dating relationship.”

DesRoches said the “Rice campus is safe and there is no immediate threat” to the community.

“And tonight we will embrace our students,” he added.

The curfew has now been lifted, but all classes and activities have been cancelled for the rest of the day.

For more information on this story, follow Jessica Willey on Facebook. X and Instagram.

ABC News contributed to this report.