A University of Utah student was fatally shot on campus by an ex-boyfriend, police say. He was then found dead in a church.
Lauren McCluskey, a senior from Pullman, Washington, was shot outside of a dormitory Monday night.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A University of Utah student was shot and killed on campus by a former boyfriend, who was found dead hours later inside a church Tuesday, authorities said.
Lauren McCluskey, a senior from Pullman, Washington, was shot outside a dormitory just before 10 p.m. and police said she had had a relationship with the shooter, identified as Melvin Rowland.
We are absolutely devastated about the loss of one of our own. Lauren McCluskey, we will miss you more than anyone could ever imagine. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family through this difficult time. #utefamily pic.twitter.com/Ts6KSB2kUM
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) October 23, 2018
JUST IN: Jill McCluskey, mother of murdered @UUtah student-athlete Lauren McCluskey just sent us this statement about her daughter’s death and the history with her suspected killer 37-year-old Melvin Rowland. #ksltv pic.twitter.com/L6Lk0ROO5L
— Shara Park ✨ (@KSLSharaPark) October 23, 2018
Police followed Rowland, 37, into an off-campus church after he was spotted at about at about 1 a.m., University of Utah Police Lt. Brian Wahlin said.
Wahlin said Rowland’s body was found inside the church. Police didn’t provide circumstances of Rowland’s death.
ATTEMPT TO LOCATE: #homicide suspect Melvin Rowland, 37. Suspect wanted in conjunction with shooting on university campus. pic.twitter.com/BLcEC5ayHp
— Univ of Utah News (@UofUNews) October 23, 2018
The University of Utah also tweeted that Rowland had been located and was “no longer a threat.”
One student is confirmed deceased.
All morning and evening classes are canceled for Tues., 10/23. Campus services & facilities will remain open.
Support services are available for students, faculty and staff.
More info at https://t.co/sMi4tPwuZ7
— University of Utah (@UUtah) October 23, 2018
U of U ALERT: *** ALL CLEAR *** Melvin Rowland, the suspect in the fatal shooting on campus, has been located and is no longer a threat.https://t.co/sMi4tPwuZ7
— University of Utah (@UUtah) October 23, 2018
McCluskey was a track and field athlete and majored in communication. Local media reported she was 21.
University President Ruth Watkins said the university canceled classes Tuesday and scheduled a 5 p.m. vigil for McCluskey.
“As a campus community, we share grief over this tragic loss of life,” she said in a statement.
It is with great sadness that I issue this statement about the death of one of our students last night: https://t.co/FhKFI7PTIZ
— Ruth V. Watkins (@RuthVWatkins) October 23, 2018
Athletics Director Mark Harlan said university counselors and psychologists were available to support McCluskey’s teammates, coaches and friends.
“This news has shaken not only myself but our entire University of Utah athletics family to its core,” he said.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Lauren’s family and friends. pic.twitter.com/H5q3EKqYUo
— Mark Harlan (@MarkHarlan_AD) October 23, 2018
McCuskey’s body was found in a car near the university’s medical towers, Wahlin said.
“It was really scary to look out the window and see. I saw 15 to 20 police officers right where we’re standing right now,” Tyler Olsen, a student who lives in family housing near the shooting scene, told the Deseret News. “I mean, you’re in your home, but nowhere feels safe in that moment.”
Last month, an ex-convict pleaded guilty to killing a University of Utah student from China using a gun stolen after another slaying. Austin Boutain, 24, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
He and his wife were charged with hatching a carjacking plot that led to the October 2017 death of Chenwei Guo, whose parents live in Beijing and were devastated over the death of their only son at age 23.
