“We do not believe this was part of any ongoing threat,” Varley said. “It is an isolated incident. With this even nobody else is in danger.”
The identities of the deceased have not been released, pending notification of family.
Varley said both are believed to be in their late teens, early 20s and are from the Columbus area.
The dead young woman resided in a the third floor apartment at Level 27 Apartments, 3770 Southpointe Parkway, that she shared with roommates.
Police described the dead young man as “an acquaintance” of the woman. They do not believe he was a weekend visitor and may not have been in the apartment for very long before the shootings occurred.
Police said roommates of the young woman called 911 about 8:45 a.m. after hearing a smoke alarm going off in the deceased student’s bedroom. Police do not believe they were home when the incident occurred.
Officers forced entry into the locked bedroom and found the bodies as well as a handgun.
Police believe smoke from the gun triggered the smoke alarm.
Counseling and other resources are being provided for students, according to a Miami University representative.
The roommates are displaced while the investigation continues at the scene. The university is providing assistance for those displaced students.
Varley said it has been more the 30 years since the last homicide in Oxford.
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