Four University of Idaho students have been found dead off campus on Sunday. The deceased persons were believed to be the victims of homicide, according to school officials.
The students were identified by the Moscow, Idaho, police as: Ethan Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington; Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Xana Kernodle, 20, of Avondale, Arizona; and Kaylee GonCalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho.
Moscow police Capt. Anthony Dahlinger told the Idaho Statesman that all four students are considered victims, not suspects.
“We certainly have a crime here, so we are looking for a suspect,” he told the newspaper.
No one is in custody and the police department said it “does not believe there is an ongoing community risk.”
The victims were found around noon on Sunday when officers responded to a report of an unconscious person, according to police. When officers arrived, they found the four students dead, police said.
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The fatalities appear to be a “one-off type of situation,” Moscow Mayor Art Bettge told ABC News on Monday.
“Something had occurred that resulted in these deaths — there was no robbery,” he said.
The mayor added, “As for further threat of incident in the community, I’d say there probably isn’t.”
Chapin, a freshman, was in the Sigma Chi fraternity and was majoring in recreation, sport and tourism management, university president Scott Green said.
Mogen, a senior, and Kernodle, a junior, were both marketing majors in the Pi Beta Phi sorority, Green said.
Goncalves, a senior, was majoring in general studies and was in the Alpha Phi sorority, Green said.
“Words cannot adequately describe the light these students brought to this world or ease the depth of suffering we feel at their passing under these tragic circumstances,” Green said in a statement. “The university is working directly with those affected and is committed to supporting all students, families and employees as this event undeniably touches all of us.”
The police department said it’s “deeply saddened for the families of these individuals, fellow students and friends, and our community during this time. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to each and every person affected by this incident.” (ABC News)
