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Utah Track Athlete Lauren McCluskey Shot and Killed in Her Car on Campus

Mike Chiari@mikechiariX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistOctober 23, 2018

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JANUARY 14: Detail shot of the Utah Utes logo on their uniform before the Utes play the Oregon Ducks at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on January 14, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images

University of Utah track athlete Lauren McCluskey was shot and killed Monday night on campus in Salt Lake City.

According to ESPN's Kyle Bonagura, McCluskey was found dead in a parked car, and her suspected killer was later found dead at an off-campus location.

The university identified the suspect as 37-year-old Melvin Rowland. He was a registered sex offender who was convicted of forcible sexual abuse and enticing a minor in 2004.

McCluskey was a 21-year-old senior from Pullman, Washington, who majored in communication.

After news of her death broke, University of Utah athletic director Mark Harlan released the following statement, per Bonagura: "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 the Utes' athletic website, McCluskey ranks 10th all-time at Utah in the pentathlon, and she was a 2017 Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention.

The University of Utah canceled all Tuesday classes and have scheduled an on-campus vigil for Wednesday.