Rice University cancels classes Tuesday after student found dead in dorm room

HOUSTON – Classes at Rice University were canceled Tuesday after a student was found dead on campus Monday night. Police believe the incident was a murder-suicide.

The student, now identified as Andrea Rodriguez Avila, was a third-year student from Maryland.

According to police, Avila’s parents called campus police after not hearing from their daughter, and a welfare check was conducted at Jones College, a residential building on campus.

When campus police entered Avila’s dorm, they found her dead from a gunshot wound. They also found a man, who was not a student at the university, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Investigators reportedly found a note that led them to believe the shooting was a murder-suicide.

The man, whose identity has not yet been established, is believed to be from Florida and was visiting Avila. It is unclear how long the two were in the room before they were found.

Rice University has set up a call center for students who need support in coping with the tragedy.

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