Four University Of Idaho Students Dead In Apparent Homicides

By Kevin Richert, Idaho Capital Sun

November 14, 2022

Moscow police have identified the four University of Idaho students, who died in apparent homicides.

No suspect or suspects are in custody.

“The Moscow Police does not believe there is an ongoing community risk based on information gathered during the preliminary investigation,” according to a news release issued by the city late Monday morning.

The U of I released more details about the victims Monday afternoon:

• Ethan Chapin, 20, was a freshman from Mount Vernon, Wash., majoring in recreation, sport and tourism management in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, and a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
• Kaylee GonCalves, 21, was a senior from Rathdrum, majoring in general studies in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences.
• Xana Kernodle, 20, was a junior from Post Falls, majoring in marketing in the College of Business and Economics, and a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
• Madison Mogen, 21, was a senior from Coeur d’Alene, majoring in marketing in the College of Business and Economics.

Police have released few details about the deaths, which occurred in an apartment on King Road, near the U of I campus.

Shortly before noon PST, police officers responded to a report of an unconscious person at the apartment. Officers then discovered four dead persons at the scene.

News of the homicides began unfolding throughout the day.

At about 2 p.m. PST, the university tweeted that Moscow police were investigating a homicide on King Road, urging students to stay away from the area and shelter in place.

The university tweeted out a second alert 39 minutes later. “Investigation continues. Suspect unknown. (Moscow Police Department) does not believe there is an active threat. Shelter in place lifted. Remain vigilant.”

On Sunday evening, university President C. Scott Green confirmed that the apparent homicides involved four students, but reiterated that the police did not believe there was an active threat.

“An event of this magnitude can understandably have significant impacts on those left behind,” Green said. “As Vandals, we must come together and lift each other up.”

The university canceled classes for Monday.

Meanwhile, the news reverberated across social media.

“We mourn for the lives lost, and grieve with their loved ones and the entire Vandal community,” Boise State University said in a tweet.

“We join @uofi in grieving the unimaginable loss their campus community is experiencing,” the College of Western Idaho said in a tweet.

“Moscow, Idaho. I am so profoundly sorry to wake up to this news,” said Josh Ritter, a singer-songwriter and Moscow native.

The deaths near the U of I campus were reported the same day three University of Virginia football players died in a mass shooting in Charlottesville, Va.

The Idaho Capital Sun, the Gem State’s newest nonprofit news organization, delivers accountability reporting on state government, politics and policy.