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RUPD and HPD investigate suspected murder-suicide at Jones College

By Riya Misra and Juliana Lightsey, 26.08.24, 19:07

Rice University police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide on the Jones College campus, according to a Rice alert sent to the Rice community at 5:39 p.m.

The victim, Andrea Rodriguez Avila, a third-year student at Rice University, was found shot to death at Jones' home, university President Reginald DesRoches confirmed in a news conference. RUPD officers arrived at the scene around 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 26, DesRoches said, in response to a request from one of Avila's family members for a welfare check.

The suspect was a man unrelated to Rice who was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

There were no signs of a forced entry, and RUPD Chief Clemente Rodriguez said Avila likely gave him access to the building. The dorms are accessible to Rice students only with a university ID.

The suspect and Avila had a previous romantic relationship, Rodriguez said. Rwanda police found a note from the suspect indicating the two had a “troubled relationship.” Rodriguez did not comment further on the contents of the note.

“This is a speech no president ever wants to give,” DesRoches said in his Aug. 26 press conference. “I want all of our students, our parents and the entire Rice community to know that the Rice campus is safe. There is no immediate threat, and tonight we will embrace our students. As a parent of a former Rice student, I can only imagine how devastating this must be.”

Students and faculty were given a curfew that was lifted at 6:49 p.m. According to a 6:04 p.m. Rice alert, all classes and activities were canceled for the rest of the day. Houston police arrived at the scene. A Houston Fire Department ambulance and a Houston Forensic Investigation vehicle were parked in front of Jones and Brown colleges.

This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.

[7:33 p.m., Aug. 26: This story was updated with more details surrounding the investigation.]

[8:55 p.m., Aug. 26: This story was updated with the victim’s identity and further details disclosed during DesRoches’ and Rodriguez’s press conference.]

[1:22 a.m., Aug. 27: This story was updated with further comments from DesRoches’ and Rodriguez’s press conference.]

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