A Purdue University student was killed in his dorm room, and the victim’s roommate has been arrested, school officials said on Wednesday.
Purdue President Mitch Daniels said in a statement that the victim’s roommate called authorities to report the incident and is in custody as a suspect.
“This is as tragic an event as we can imagine happening on our campus and our hearts and thoughts go out to all of those affected by this terrible event,” Daniels said in a statement.
The Tippecanoe County Coroner Office identified the victim as 20-year-old Varun Manish Chheda of Indianapolis.
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Fox 59 said the suspect was identified as 22-year-old Ji Min Sha, citing Purdue Police Chief Lesley Wiete, who identified him as an international student from Korea.
Sha is reportedly a junior in cybersecurity and is facing a preliminary charge of murder.
Fox 59 noted that Wiete did not confirm if any weapons were recovered and said the act was “unprovoked and senseless.”
A university spokesperson said the 911 call came into Purdue police at 12:44 a.m. ET and that there was no threat to the community.
General view of the campus of Purdue Boilermakers on October 20, 2018 in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
(Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The spokesperson said that the incident occurred in McCutcheon Hall on the western edge of the campus and, citing the Clery Act, said “no timely warning” had been issued because the suspect was identified and apprehended quickly after the call.
Daniels said that the Purdue University Police Department is conducting a thorough investigation of the incident.
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“As Purdue’s president, but even more so as a parent myself, I assure you that the safety and security of our students is the single highest priority on our campus,” Daniels said. “Purdue is an extraordinarily safe place on any given day, and compared with cities of Purdue’s population (approximately 60,000 in all), we experience a tiny fraction of violent and property crime that occurs elsewhere.”
CHAMPAIGN, IL – SEPTEMBER 22: An Purdue Boilermakers flag is seen flying at Memorial Stadium before the Illinois Fighting Illini and Chattanooga Mocs game on September 22, 2022, in Champaign, Illinois.
(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
“Such statistics are of no consolation on a day like this. A death on our campus and among our Purdue family affects each of us deeply,” he added.
The Purdue Exponent said the victim was a senior in the College of Science and – citing Capt. Song Kang – said the suspect would likely be booked into the county jail sometime Wednesday morning.
The campus outlet said there had been police activity at the dorm hall.
A student walks through the Purdue Mall on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012.
(Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Purdue University staff are offering counseling and support services to students.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
