Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916

Sunday, May 04, 2025 — Houston, TX

Online Only: Fatal shooting occurs near campus

By Rutenberg     4/16/09 7:00pm

Metro Police shot and killed a man carrying a knife Tuesday morning just outside of the Rice campus. The police had been following the man after he became involved in an altercation at METRORail's Dryden/TMC station, south of campus. When he took off along the outer loop, Metro Police fatally wounded the man, Rice Director of News and Media Relations B.J. Almond said.A female bystander sustained an arm injury from the shooting, but was treated by Rice EMS and was then transported to Ben Taub Hospital for further treatment.

"To avoid these situations, move together with a group," Rice Police Chief Bill Taylor said. "Using caution and being aware of your surroundings will help [students] avoid these situations the best they can." Taylor added that the Rice police were not involved, aside from helping to set up a perimeter after the situation had been resolved.

Neither the police, the man nor the bystander were affiliated with members of the Rice community. The Rice community was not at risk from this incident, Taylor said.



Rice students and faculty were notified of the fatal shooting via both text message and email just before noon Tuesday.



More from The Rice Thresher

OPINION 4/26/25 5:14pm
This moment may be unprecedented — Rice falling short is not

In many ways, the current landscape of American higher education is unprecedented. Sweeping cuts to federal research funding, overt government efforts to control academic departments and censor campus protests and arbitrary arrests and visa revocations have rightly been criticized as ushering in the latest iteration of fascism.


Comments

Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.