Police believe knives were used in University of Idaho student deaths
Moscow police said although they did not find a weapon, they believe a sharp weapon, such as a knife, was used. Police said the attack was isolated and targeted.
MOSCOW, Idaho – On Wednesday, November 16, the Moscow Police Department (MPD) held a press conference with Idaho State Police and University of Idaho President C. Scott Green to provide additional information on the investigation into the murder .
According to police, victims Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin were away from the scene at a party on campus early that evening. Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves were at a bar and got home at 1:45 a.m
When police arrived at the scene for a health check, officers found four victims and others who were not injured. Officials say there were no signs of a forced entry into the home. When the police arrived, the door was still open.
Police still say it was an isolated, targeted attack. The suspect is still at large. Nor can you say that there is no threat to the community. There was no attempted robbery. Officials did not reveal who the caller was.
Moscow police do not have an exact timeline of where the victims were before they died. The location of the weapon at this time is unknown.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Moscow Police Department at 208-883-7054.
The University of Idaho said a vigil for students scheduled for Wednesday evening has been postponed to Nov. 30.
commemorating the victims
The victims were identified as:
- 20-year-old Ethan Chapin from Conway, Washington. He was a freshman majoring in recreation, sports and tourism management and was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
- 21-year-old Madison Mogen from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She was a senior specializing in marketing and a member of the Pi Beta Phi fraternity
- 20-year-old Xana Kernodle from Post Falls, Idaho. She was a junior marketing major and a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
- 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves from Rathdrum, Idaho. She was a senior with a General Studies major and was a member of the Alpha Pi fraternity.
RELATED: Skagit County man among 4 found dead near University of Idaho
Moscow Mayor Art Bettge made a statement on the student deaths on Monday, partly with the following words:
I am deeply saddened by the events of November 13th in which four of our parishioners lost their lives. It is impossible to understand the futility of such events and we are all looking for answers that are not yet available.
“There’s no point or reason in all of this,” Bettge told KREM 2. “And I think it’s a symptom of broader issues in our society, where violence is used more often than discussion or problem-solving.”
Moscow Police and Idaho State Police are still working to “identify exactly what happened,” according to Bettge.
“I wish we could say we’ve made more progress in identifying exactly what happened,” he said. “But this is a very complex scene, very complex area and we just have to wait for the police to work through everything and find out what is actually happening and give us information when information becomes fact rather than speculation. “
The University of Idaho canceled classes Monday, November 14 out of respect for the students who died. All campuses will remain open and classes will resume on Tuesday, the university said in a lletter to students.
The University of Idaho is providing support for students and staff affected by the deaths.
Students may contact the Counseling and Testing Center on the third floor of Mary Forney Hall or call 208-885-6716 for assistance. Press option three for instant support in the evenings and weekends.
Students can also drop by the 4th floor of the ISUB on Mondays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for immediate counseling assistance. Students can also go to the Dean of Studies in TLC 232.
University of Idaho staff can leverage available EAP resources through their benefits.
A GoFund Me was also set up for Kaylee and Maddie and another one for Xana.
Washington State University Chancellor and Executive Vice President Elizabeth Chilton also released a statement on Monday, in which she explained in part:
I am heartbroken to learn of the deaths of four University of Idaho students over the weekend and offer my sincere condolences to the families and friends of Ethan, Kaylee, Madison and Xana, and the entire vandal community for this tremendous loss.
This is an evolving story. KREM 2 News is working to confirm more details. We’ll update this story with the latest information as we learn more.
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https://www.kvue.com/article/news/crime/university-of-idaho-moscow-homicide-students-identified/293-f6b8e9d8-cba5-444e-9e15-6e1c5ad1cfe0 Police believe knives were used in University of Idaho student deaths
