Moscow police have not yet released the cause of death for the four students, but described them as “victims of homicide” in a press release. Moscow Police Capt. Anthony Dahlinger also confirmed to the Idaho Statesman Monday night that police are treating the deaths as homicides. Based on a preliminary investigation, police say they do not believe the murders pose a “continuing danger to the community.” As of Tuesday, no suspects have been taken into custody.

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Story continues below ad The University of Idaho canceled classes Monday following the news and opened counseling sessions for its students. The university is also organizing security personnel to walk students on campus for the rest of the week, CBS reported, but many remain concerned about campus safety due to the lack of information about the deaths. University of Idaho President Scott Green urged faculty to be “empathetic, flexible and collaborative with our students” as some choose to leave early for the American Thanksgiving break. “Words cannot adequately describe the light these students brought into this world or ease the depth of pain we feel when he died under these tragic circumstances,” Green said.

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The dead students were identified by police and the university as:

Ethan Chapin, 20, of Conway, Washington. Chapin was a freshman majoring in recreation, sports and tourism management and a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. Xana Kernodle, 20, of Avondale, Ariz. Kernodle was a junior marketing major and a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. Madison Mogen, 21, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Mogen was a senior majoring in marketing and a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. Kaylee Goncalves, 21, of Rathdrum, Idaho. Goncalves was a senior majoring in general studies and a member of Alpha Phi sorority.

According to social media photos, the four students appeared to be close friends. On the day of their deaths, Goncalves, one of the victims, posted a photo on Instagram of herself posing with the other three victims. In the photo, Mogen, who is wearing an “Idaho” sweatshirt, sits on Goncalves’ shoulders while Chapin wraps his arm around Kernodle. Current trend

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Story continues below ad Screenshot of an Instagram photo showing the four victims in a recent homicide investigation in Moscow, Idaho, posing together. Instagram Moscow police said they discovered the dead students after receiving a call about an unconscious person around noon on Sunday. Moscow Mayor Art Bettge told The New York Times that the killings appeared to be a “crime of passion,” adding that police still needed more time to investigate. “With a crime of this magnitude, it’s very difficult to deal with,” Bettge said in the interview. “The overall assessment is that this is a crime of passion.”

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Speaking to ABC News, Bettge added that the killings appear to be a “unique situation.” “Something had happened that resulted in these deaths – there was no robbery,” he said. Story continues below ad Cathy Mabbutt, the Latah County Coroner, told The New York Times that the deaths were not a murder-suicide and that her office plans to perform autopsies on Wednesday. The newspaper also reported that Moscow has not seen a murder in its city since 2015. Mayor Bettge said the students’ deaths serve as “a sobering reminder that senseless acts of violence can happen anywhere, at any time, and we are not immune from such events here in our community,” in a news release. “Today, we mourn those who were lost and those they left behind.”

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“The Moscow Police Department and the city of Moscow are deeply sorry for these individuals’ families, fellow students and friends, and our community at this time,” the police department said. “Our sincere condolences to every person affected by this incident.” Local restaurant Mad Greek posted a heartfelt tribute to two of the students on its Facebook page, writing: “Xana and Maddie have been servers here for several years and brought so much joy to our restaurant and to everyone they met.” “You will be greatly missed. Thank you for being part of our family/team and for helping me so much over the years. Until we meet again.” Story continues below ad 0:43 Idaho woman thought she was breaking up a dog fight, but grabbed a mountain lion Previous Video Next Video © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.