Purdue student killed in residence hall; roommate in custody

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WPTA) - Purdue University police say they are investigating the death of a student in a residence hall early Wednesday morning as a homicide.

Police say the call 911 call came in around 12:44 a.m. from the student’s roommate. A letter from University President Mitch Daniels says the roommate is now being held as a suspect in the killing.

According to WTHR, Purdue University Police Chief Lesley Wiete has identified the suspect as 22-year-old Ji Min Sha, a junior who is studying cybersecurity. Police said Sha is an international student from Korea. The victim has been identified as 20-year-old Varun Manish Chheda from Indianapolis. An autopsy is scheduled for later Wednesday.

Wiete says both students were awake at the time of the incident in their first floor dorm room, and she believes the crime was “unprovoked and senseless.”

President Daniels has released the following statement on the matter:

“Dear members of our Purdue community,
I write to let you know that early this morning, one of our students was killed in his residence hall room. The suspect, the victim’s roommate, called police to report the incident and is in custody.
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.
We do not have all the details yet. Our Purdue University Police Department is conducting a thorough investigation of this incident so that we all may learn more about what transpired. As is always the case, staff from our Office of the Dean of Students, our Residence Halls, and clinicians at Purdue’s Counseling and Psychological Services are providing support and are available to anyone who needs or wants their care.
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. 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.
I am ever grateful to all of you who continually take the time to care for each other and know you will do so in the days ahead.”
President Daniels.