Authorities are investigating a suspected murder-suicide at Rice University after a student and another person were found dead in a dorm room.
Campus police found student Andrea Rodriguez Avila dead in her dorm room after her family requested a welfare check.
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Students were advised to stay in their rooms and seek shelter on Monday evening while police investigated the death at the university in Houston, Texas.
The dean of undergraduate students and chancellor of Jones College sent a letter to students and faculty Monday evening confirming Avila's death.
“As you come together to support one another, please respect the Jones community by giving them the space to grieve,” the letter said.
“We mourn the loss of a wonderful person who was taken from us far too soon.”
Avila was a student at Jones College, one of Rice's eleven dormitories.
A second person was also found dead in the room.
The person's identity is currently unknown, but he is not a member of the Rice community, the letter states.
Investigators believe he died from a gunshot wound.
There were no signs of forced entry into her room and authorities believe she let him in.
Avila, a third-year student, raised concerns among her family members after she failed to show up for her first day of classes.
When authorities checked her room, they made a horrific discovery.
A university spokesman told The US Sun that there appeared to be a romantic relationship between the two, said Clemente Rodriguez, Rice Police Chief.
According to local ABC affiliate KVUE, Rodriguez also said the unidentified man left a note describing his relationship with Avila.
“In general, a lot of it was about their relationship and obviously their relationship was problematic at the time,” Rodriguez told the outlet.
Avila was from Maryland and investigators believe her suspected killer was from Florida.
Rice University President Reginald DesRoches told reporters Monday evening that Avila was found dead around 4:30 p.m. CT.
Full letter to the Rice community
Dean of Graduates Bridget Gorman and Jones College Master Zachary Bell released the following letter to the Rice University community regarding the August 26 tragedy:
Dear Rice Community,
It is with great sadness that we inform you that Andrea Rodriguez Avila, a student at Jones College, was found dead in her room on campus today during a well-being check by RUPD. According to investigators on site, Andrea is believed to be the victim of homicide. A second person, who was not a member of the Rice community, was also found dead in the room. Investigators believe the second person died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound and may have known Andrea. There were no signs of forced entry into her room. Rest assured that RUPD is working with Houston Police and our campus is safe.
As you come together to support one another, please respect the Jones community by allowing them the space to grieve. We expect more memorial information and resources to be released in the coming days.
We mourn the loss of a wonderful person who left us far too soon. If you need someone to talk to, please contact your college MAs, RAs, coordinators, or any of our staff at the Rice Counseling Center and Wellbeing Office who are here to support you during this terrible time. Students who need support should contact Wellbeing at 713-348-3311 – this number is available 24 hours a day. Faculty and staff who need support should use the Employee Assistance Program 24 hours a day at 888-881-5462.
“Tonight, I want our students, parents and the Rice community to know that the Rice campus is safe, there is no immediate threat and we will put our arms around our students tonight,” he said.
“As a parent of a former Rice student, I can only imagine how devastating this must be,” Des Roches continued.
The president added that the university is in contact with Avila's parents and will fly her in on Tuesday morning.
Tragedy on the first day
Rice University issued a statement on X, alerting the public to the ongoing investigation.
The rest of the classes were cancelled for the day and the curfew was lifted after one hour.
About 70% of students live on campus in one of the dormitories, including Jones.
The tragedy occurred just hours after Rice students moved in for the fall semester.
“Welcome back to campus! I hope everyone had a great summer and you are ready to hit the ground running this semester, striving for excellence in everything you do and inspiring others to do the same,” Rice University President Reginald DesRoches said in a welcome letter released Monday.
Rice had organized a series of welcoming events for students on Monday evening, which have since been canceled.
In light of the tragedy, classes were also cancelled on Tuesday.
Rice, located next to the Houston Museum District, is a private research university with about 9,000 students.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on 988, chat on 988lifeline.org or text the Crisis Text Line on 741741.
Statement by President DesRoches
Rice University President Reginald DesRoches sent the following statement to the campus community following the death of Andrea Rodriguez Avila.
Dear Rice Community,
It is with profound sadness and shock that I write to you on what should have been a day of promise and new beginnings. Instead, we mourn the loss of one of our own in a tragic event that has shaken our campus to its core.
As previously announced by Bridget Gorman, Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Rice University Police responded to a welfare check this afternoon and found student Andrea Rodriguez Avila dead in her room at Jones College, along with an unidentified man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound who was not a member of the Rice community. This is a heartbreaking, devastating incident, and it is important to recognize that this loss will impact our close-knit community in the days and weeks to come.
Tonight, I want to share with our students, parents, and the Rice community that our campus is safe, there is no further threat, and we embrace you with care and compassion. As a parent of a former Rice student, I can only imagine how devastating this must be – for Andrea's family and our community.
The pain we feel on campus tonight is immeasurable, and I know words cannot fully express the grief and sadness many of you may be feeling. I urge you to hold each other up, offer support and compassion, and remember that we are all united in our grief and sorrow.
Tomorrow, August 27, all classes will be canceled, but our campus will remain open. We encourage you to come together as a community, spend time together to grieve, and utilize the counseling resources available on campus.
Rice's culture of caring is especially strong in times of tragedy, and numerous resources are available to help you cope with the emotions that may arise in the wake of this terrible event. If you need someone to talk to, please contact your college MAs, RAs, coordinators, or any of the staff in the Rice Counseling Center and Wellbeing Office. Students who need support should contact Wellbeing at 713-348-3311—this number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Faculty and staff who need support can meet in person with Employee Assistance Program (EAP) representatives in the Rice Memorial Center Chapel on Tuesday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Faculty and staff can also speak with EAP representatives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 888-881-5462. We are here to support you, and no one should feel alone during this time.
In moments like these, our strength, care and resilience as a community are more important than ever. Please take care of yourselves and each other. Let us honor Andrea's memory by coming together in unity and compassion.
With deepest sympathy,
President Reginald DesRoches
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