New details emerge about Rice University murder and suicide victims

The suspected gunman who killed Rice University student Andrea Rodriguez Avila and himself wrote a note before the tragic murder-suicide that rocked campus on the first day of classes.

“In general, a lot of it was about their relationship, and obviously they had a difficult relationship at the time,” university police chief Clemente Rodriguez said at a news conference on Monday.

According to police, 21-year-old Avila and the 22-year-old unidentified man were in a “dating relationship.”

On Wednesday, two days after the horrific incident, classes resumed at Rice University. The University of Houston canceled classes on Tuesday.

University police found Avila dead in her dorm room at Jones College on Monday during a physical check. The physical check was requested by a family member who had not heard from Avila.

A man who was not a member of the university community was also found dead in the room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The man has not yet been identified, but officials said he may be from Florida.

Avila, originally from Nottingham, Maryland, transferred to Rice University last spring from the Community College of Baltimore County.

“Andrea's family arrived in Houston Tuesday morning and is receiving support from the university's leadership team during this extremely difficult time,” a Rice University spokesperson said. Newsweek. “They have asked for privacy while they mourn their loss, but are deeply grateful for the many thoughts and prayers of the community.”

Who was Andrea Rodriguez Avila?

In community college, Avila was an active member of several organizations, including the college-wide Student Programming Board, the Multicultural Student Association, the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, and the First Year Experience Mentor program.

She studied political science and law at Rice University. She has served as an alternate parliamentarian for the Rice Student Association, an academic advisor at Jones College, and a member of the university's honorary council.

She also served as the events director for the school's Transfer Student Association.

“Since transferring to Rice this spring, she has become a beloved member of the transfer student community and was excited to take on the role of TSA event director this year,” association president Alex Cantin said in a statement on Instagram. “Her passion and empathy for this community touched everyone who had the privilege of working with her.”

Rice University President Reginald DesRoches called the incident “heartbreaking” and “devastating.”

“It is with profound sadness and shock that I write to you on what should have been a day of promise and new beginnings,” DesRoches said in a statement. “Instead, we mourn the loss of one of our own in a tragic event that has shaken our campus to its core.”

The investigation is being led by the Houston Police Department. The shooting is believed to be a murder-suicide. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Houston Police Department Homicide Unit at 713-308-3600.

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