Student fatally shot in apparent murder-suicide at Rice University

A college student was found fatally shot in her dorm room in Houston on Monday afternoon, and the suspect of the shooting, whom she was dating, was found dead nearby, officials said.

The woman was identified by Rice University as Andrea Rodriguez Avila, a junior from Maryland. Campus Police Chief Clemente Rodriguez said members of her family were concerned about lack of contact and requested officers check up on her.

Once Rice University police discovered the woman missed at least one class on Monday, officers moved in shortly before 4 p.m. for a welfare check, Rodriguez said at a news conference Monday evening.

That's when they found her body in her room at the Jones College on-campus residence hall, alongside the suspected shooter's body and a note believed to have been written by him, Rodriguez said. The note suggested to investigators the two were "having a troubled relationship," the chief said.

"They were dating," he said.

Detectives believe the suspected shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Rodriguez said. The identity of that person was not released. The chief said the man may be from Florida.

Investigators believe the man got into the residence by accompanying Avila, who had access, Rodriguez said.

There was no sign of forced entry, administrators said in a message Monday night addressed to students, parents, staff members and faculty. Counseling is available to students 24 hours a day, administrators said in the message.

“I want our students, parents and Rice community to know that the Rice campus is safe, there is no immediate threat, and tonight we will wrap our arms around our students," Rice University President Reginald DesRoches said at the news conference.

Jones College started out in 1957 as Mary Gibbs Jones College with $1 million from the Houston Endowment, according to Rice University. It was developed as a rare place where women could reside on campus, and it evolved into a full-fledged, coeducational institution.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.

If you or someone you know is facing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence hotline for help at (800) 799-SAFE (7233), or go to www.thehotline.org for more. States often have domestic violence hotlines as well.