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SALT LAKE CITY — Universities around the state are showing their support for the University of Utah Wednesday after a student was shot and killed on the U. campus Monday.
Lauren McCluskey, a 21-year-old student-athlete at the U., was shot and killed by a man who police later identified as 37-year-old Melvin Rowland, officials said. McCluskey was studying communications and was a member of the track-and-field team at the university.
A statement from @Utah_trackfield Head Coach Kyle Kepler. pic.twitter.com/DYf7yHrHUx
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) October 23, 2018
McCluskey had dated Rowland for about a month before the shooting, and he had lied about his name, age and criminal history, according to McCluskey's mother. Rowland, a registered sex offender, had previously been incarcerated in the Draper prison after being convicted of attempted forcible sexual abuse and enticing a minor over the internet, according to court records.
McCluskey ended the relationship with Rowland on Oct. 9, and then, about 10 days before the shooting, reported to U. police that she was being harassed. She was shot and killed on campus about 9 p.m. Monday. After an hours-long manhunt, police found Rowland dead of a self-inflicted gunshot inside a local church early Tuesday morning.
The Utah football team, which is set to play UCLA at the Rose Bowl Friday, will be adding a decal to the back of their helmets to honor McCluskey. The Bruins athletics department will hold a moment of silence ahead of the game.
We will wear this decal on the back of our helmets during the game this Friday to honor Lauren McCluskey. #UteFamilypic.twitter.com/zdwTRW0vJq
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) October 24, 2018
After the tragedy, college campuses all around the state have encouraged students to wear red Wednesday in memory of McCluskey and to show support for the U.
In support of our friends, colleagues and fellow students at @UUtah, we ask that everyone wear red or Ute gear for Wolverine Wednesday tomorrow from 11:30am- 1pm ❤️💚
— UVUSA (@uvustudents) October 24, 2018
In a sign of solidarity of the recent events that happened on the @UUtah campus, we ask that students wear red tomorrow, Wednesday the 24th, in support for them and their loss.
— and im USUSA the pumpkin student association (@UtahStateSA) October 23, 2018
Our BYU student athletes are wearing RED tomorrow in memory of < br>Lauren McCluskey. < br>< br>If you’d like to join, please dress in red to honor this student and the University of Utah. pic.twitter.com/kz7yI0D7TS
— The Roar Of Cougars (@byuROC) October 24, 2018
Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to our family at @UUtah Tbirds please wear red tomorrow to honor the victim and her family. ❤️
— SUU SPB (@suu_spb) October 23, 2018
Our hearts are heavy for the news we received this morning. What happened at the University of Utah has impacted all of us. Tomorrow please wear red to show our support and show how we can all be #utestrongpic.twitter.com/yMw4JQgnTC
— The Dixie Life (@thedixielife) October 24, 2018
#UteStrong 🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/OWomdDuRz7
— George_dsu (@George_dsu) October 24, 2018
To express our love and support to the McCluskey family and @utahathletics our staff, coaches and student athletes are wearing red today. #WeAreWeber#GoUtespic.twitter.com/n0uM0deKpJ
— Weber State Wildcats (@weberstate) October 24, 2018
In expression of our love and support to the McCluskey family and @utahathletics our student-athletes, coaches, and staff are wearing red today. pic.twitter.com/MnNPDQiQbI
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) October 24, 2018
A vigil will be held in honor of McCluskey Wednesday at 5 p.m. on the steps of the Park Building on the University of Utah campus.
Utah will also be honoring McCluskey at several of its athletic events, starting Wednesday night as the women's volleyball team takes on McCluskey's home-town university Washington State. The two volleyball teams will link arms as they hold a moment of silence. Fans attending the match will receive a winged-foot sticker.
On Thursday, the women's soccer team will also hold a moment of silence prior to their match against UCLA and will wear wristbands with a heart logo featuring McCluskey's initials. At the cross country championships at Stanford Friday, Utah's team will wear black uniforms with the heart logo patch.
