Utah student shot, killed by sex offender

After a police chase, the suspect wanted in the death of a University of Utah student was found dead inside a Salt Lake City church, authorities announced early Tuesday. Melvin Rowland, a registered sex offender, fatally shot a female student he had a “previous relationship” with on Monday, according to University of Utah Police Lt. Brian Wahlin. The student’s body was found around 9 p.m. in a car on campus, after campus police received a report of a possible abduction outside a residence hall. Wahlin said police pursued a tip in the Salt Lake City area and found the suspect identified by the university as Rowland, 37. Police chased him as he ran in the back door of a church, and then found him inside the building dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound with the weapon used in the student’s death, he said. “We don’t believe there is any more threat or danger to the public,” Wahlin said. All University of Utah classes were canceled on Tuesday out of respect for the student who died. The Counseling Center remained open. The student was identified as Lauren McCluskey by University President Ruth V. Watkins in a statement Tuesday morning. “Lauren was a highly regarded member of the university’s track and field team and an outstanding scholar, a senior majoring in communication,” Watkins said. In 2004, Rowland was convicted of attempted forcible sexual abuse and enticing a minor, according to Utah’s sex offender registry. Last month, Austin Boutain, 24, pleaded guilty to killing a University of Utah student from China using a gun stolen after another slaying. He was given life in prison without parole.

Melvin Rowland