Kanagala Seshadri Rao, a 24-year-old graduate student at Boston University, was found dead early Thursday morning on April 19 lying in the street in Allston, a part of Boston, about one mile from campus. According to reports, Rao was shot in the head and leg and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Boston Police Department and the Boston University Police Department are investigating the incident. No arrests have been made in the case and the police have not announced any suspects.

Rao is reportedly from Jeypore, Orissa, and came to the United States about a year ago. He was in the BU School of Management’s mathematical-finance program. School officials have described Rao as “a wonderful student” and said he was chosen over approximately 1,000 international applicants for one of the 50 spots in the program.

Rao was found by Boston Police at 2:40 a.m. on April 19 after they responded to a call from 139 Allston St. The scene of the crime was only minutes from Rao’s apartment.

Boston University President Robert Brown wrote a letter to the school community saying the university was saddened at the loss of one of its students. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s family and friends, Brown wrote. He also wrote “we are outraged at this crime.”

Rao’s death has sparked an outpouring of support and praise from his fellow BU students and family and friends back in India.