Rice University student found fatally shot in dorm room on first day of class

HOUSTON — Two people have died in an apparent murder-suicide at Rice University in Houston.

University police said a female student was found shot to death in her dorm room Monday and a man, who was not a student, was also found dead with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

University President Reginald DesRoches identified the student as Andrea Rodriguez Avila.

“This is a speech no president will ever want to give,” DesRoches said. “As president of Rice University, I am deeply saddened to share the loss of one of our students, Andrea Rodriguez Avila. Rice University police responded to a welfare check this afternoon around 4:30 p.m. and found Andrea deceased in her room with an unidentified male who was not a member of the Rice community who had been shot.”

Rice University Police Chief Clemente Rodriguez said a family member had not heard from Avila and asked police to check on her and make sure she was OK.

Rodriguez said officers checked to see if Avila had been to class and found she had not been to class. It was around 4:30 p.m. when officers went to check her room to see if she needed anything.

“So we walked into the room and that’s when we discovered her,” Rodriguez said.

Police said there was no sign of forced entry into the dorm, and Rodriguez said the man found in Avila’s room was not a registered visitor.

Students and staff were locked down for about two hours before the stay-at-home order was lifted around 7 p.m.

“As a parent of a Rice alumnus, I can only imagine how devastating this must be,” DesRoches said. “We are communicating with Andrea’s parents and flying them out early tomorrow morning. We ask the community to keep us in their prayers as we comfort each other tonight.”

Monday was the first day of classes. All remaining classes and activities were cancelled for the day.

Authorities have not identified the man.