University of Utah Student Killed Outside of Dorm

University of Utah Student Killed Outside of Dorm

School officials have identified the victim as Lauren McCluskey.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • October 24, 2018

A student at the University of Utah was shot and killed outside her dorm on Monday night, according to police officials. The student has since been identified as Lauren McCluskey, a senior member of the U of U track and field team and communications major. 

"Last night, the University of Utah lost one of our own," Director of Athletics Mark Harlan said in a statement on Twitter. "Senior track standout Lauren McCluskey was tragically killed in a senseless act. This news has shaken not only myself, but our entire University of Utah athletics family to its core. We have university counselors and psychologists on standby to support Lauren's teammates, coaches and friends. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and all of those dear to her."

According to local news reports, university police received several reports of an argument followed by gunfire around 8:20 p.m. Monday night. Once at the scene, authorities found a woman dead in a car. The campus was immediately placed on lockdown.

Police identified the suspect as a 37-year-old black male. Witnesses say he fled the scene on foot. The lockdown was lifted at 11:45 p.m. after police felt confident the suspect had left the campus.

Around 2:45 a.m., the university tweeted that the suspect had been found and that there was no longer a threat. The suspect was found dead in an off-campus church by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police said the suspect "forced entry to the Trinity AME Church on 600 St after a foot pursuit, then shot himself."

While police are still investigating and there is no motive at this time, it has been made public that McCluskey and the suspect had been in a brief relationship by McCluskey's parents. Their statement reads as follows:

"It is with deepest sadness that we let you know that our daughter Lauren McCluskey, age 21, was the University of Utah student who was killed last night. Lauren previously dated her killer for about one month. He lied to her about his name, his age and his criminal history. Lauren was informed by a friend about his criminal history, and she ended the relationship with the killer on October 9, 2018. He had borrowed her car, and she requested for the University of Utah police accompany her on October 10, 2018 to get her car back. She blocked his and his friends' phone numbers and complained to the University of Utah that she was being harassed. Last night, a little before 9 p.m., she was returning to her university apartment from her night class and talking to me on the phone. Suddenly, I heard her yell, "No, no, no!" I thought that she might have been in a car accident. That was the last I heard from her. My husband called 911."

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Door Hardware and Campus Security: Enhancing Safety in Schools

    The importance of investing in school safety cannot be overstated, but knowing where to start implementation of school safety features can be a challenge. A recent survey by the National Center on Education Statistics found that a quarter of U.S. public schools have classrooms with doors that can't be locked from the inside. Even among schools with doors that do lock, recent legislation reflects a common misconception that simply keeping the doors locked all day will eliminate the potential for an attack, in direct violation of PASS (Partner Alliance for Safer Schools) Guidelines. Read Now

  • Brigham Young University Strengthens Campus Security With Genetec Operations Center

    Genetec Inc, a provider of enterprise physical security software, announced that Brigham Young University's (BYU) has optimized its security operations with the Genetec™ Operations Center work management system. Read Now

  • AI-based Risk Mitigation: The Next Advancement in Video Surveillance and Public Safety

    Safety is at the forefront of every organization and covers a gamut of scenarios, not just weapon-fueled lethal threats. It also includes smaller-scale and everyday situations like slipping hazards, fallen persons, unauthorized vehicles, and more. These issues cause disruptions in daily operations and cost companies and facilities money and downtime, so a fully realized security plan must involve actions that facility personnel should take once a hazard of any size occurs. Informing everyone that a hazard exists, where it’s located, and what actions to take is imperative for maintaining personal safety. Read Now

  • Fort Worth ISD Strengthens Event Safety

    The issue of concealed weapons being introduced into school extracurricular activities, including sporting events and graduations, became a growing concern in communities across the nation. According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were at least 202 incidents of gunfire on school grounds in 2024 across the United States, resulting in 56 deaths and 147 injuries, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols. Read Now

Most   Popular