Purdue University Student Killed in Dorm Room

A Purdue University student, Ji Min Sha, 21, was arrested early Wednesday morning after he allegedly murdered his roommate, Varun Manish Chheda, 20, in their dorm room.

Sha, a junior cybersecurity major, called 911 at about 12:45 a.m. to alert police of Chheda’s death according to NBC. A Purdue spokesperson confirmed the pair were roommates Wednesday morning. The exact details of what led to Chheda’s murder have not been disclosed, but Purdue Police Chief Lesley Wiete believes the attack was unprovoked. Multiple students have come forward to police saying they were awoken by screams.

The Tippecanoe Corner’s Office identified the student as Chheda, a senior data science student from Indianapolis. An autopsy early Wednesday morning revealed he died from “multiple sharp force traumatic injuries.”

Eight students were removed from their rooms as police investigated, but it is believed they will be allowed in their rooms before Wednesday evening. Multiple students have reported that they received no immediate alert of the murder, including those who lived in the same building as the suspect and victim.

In a statement by Purdue’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Todd Doty, students did not need to be notified because officers arrived on scene and Sha was immediately taken into custody.

Police say there is no ongoing threat to the campus or surrounding community. Counseling will be available to students and faculty through the university’s CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) program.

Ji Min Sha