Purdue University President Mitch Daniels confirmed Wednesday that a 20-year-old student was killed in his dorm — and the suspect is his roommate.
Varun Manish Chheda was killed in his first-floor dorm room in McCutcheon Hall, according to Daniels. His roommate called police at around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday and has since become the only suspect. The roommate, since identified by Purdue University Police Chief Lesley Wiete as 22-year-old junior Ji Min Sha, was placed in police custody shortly after.
“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 wrote in a statement. “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. 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.”
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According to Daniels, details are limited regarding the crime.
During a press conference, Wiete revealed Sha is a Korean international student. Police were able to bring him into custody “very quickly,” according to the chief, which is why the department never issued an alert for students on campus, as they deemed Sha was no longer a threat.
“I believe this was unprovoked and senseless,” Wiete said of the killing. She also said that she anticipated Sha will face a single charge of murder.
The Tippecanoe County Coroner’s Office identified Chheda, and an autopsy was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. According to preliminary autopsy findings, the victim died of “Multiple Sharp Force Traumatic Injuries.” His death is categorized as a homicide. Further results are pending toxicology.
Chheda was a senior studying data science.
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An investigation is underway, and staff from the Office of the Dean of Students, residence halls, and clinicians at Purdue’s Counseling and Psychological Services are standing by to provide support. CAPS is accepting walk-in appointments. Students will be allowed back into their dorm rooms on the first floor later Wednesday.
