Murder-Suicide Shocks Rice University Campus

Andrea Rodriguez Avila, a 21-year-old junior at Rice University, was killed in a murder-suicide on the first day of the fall semester. Police found Avila and a 22-year-old man, believed to be her ex-boyfriend, dead in her dorm room after responding to a welfare check requested by her parents. The man, not affiliated with the university, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and left a note detailing their troubled relationship. The university canceled classes on Tuesday following the incident, and Rice University President Reginald DesRoches assured the community that the campus is safe. Avila had transferred from the Community College of Baltimore County and was active in several campus organizations. Her family, who arrived in Houston to receive support, requested privacy during this challenging time.