On Tuesday night, Boilermaker pride was on display as members of the Purdue marching band played. Students and staff braved the bitter cold to pay tribute to a fellow classmate described as a capable student, but an even better person.
Andrew Boldt, 21, was in class at the Electrical Engineering Building when police say he was fatally shot by a fellow student 23-year-old Cody Cousins.
"The victim appeared to have been targeted by the suspect no more or less than that," said Chief Cox.
Cousins, an engineering student, was arrested shortly after the shooting. Alex Poerio captured the arrest on his cell phone.
"I started filming because the cop had his gun drawn, the student didn't have a coat or back pack and that was a red flag," said Peorio.
Boldt was a West End, Wisc. resident was an Eagle Scout and Purdue senior who worked as a teaching assistant. Former teachers say he was bright and always willing to help others with technology issues.
"I can't believe first of all that there was a shooting at Purdue and that the victim is one of our graduates. Right now we're just in a state of shock," said Jeff Monday, principal, Marquette High School.
Police said they had prior contact with Cousins during his years on the Purdue campus for an alcohol-related incident.
"This doesn't appear to be what you would typically have as an active shooter on a campus. This individual seemed to have intentions for the decedent, took the actions the individual took, then turned around and left the building and was taken into custody moments after the act," Purdue University Police Chief John Cox said.
No one else was injured.
"You train and plan, and train and plan for one of these incidents and you hope it never happens, but unfortunately it did today here," Chief Cox said.
The school was placed on lockdown Tuesday while police responded. The shooting occurred in the basement of the Electrical Engineering Building on the West Lafayette campus. That building was evacuated and the entire campus was placed on lockdown. The lockdown was lifted around 11:45 a.m. ET/ 12:45 p.m. CT.
"Homicides are extremely rare events at Purdue, it's shocking," said Tim Sands, provost, Purdue University.
"No ongoing threat to campus. Resume normal operations," the university posted to its Twitter feed.
Later Tuesday afternoon, Purdue University officials decided to cancel classes. They were also canceled for Wednesday.
A candlelight vigil will be held Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. CT. The university also said special counseling services would be available for students Tuesday night at several sites around campus.
The school kept students informed through text alerts, Twitter and its website.
"Getting texts from people, whether from the Chicago area or friends in other places. I got a lot of, 'Are you OK?' People reaching out to me in that way," Bridget Coverick, senior, said.
