Medical School Student Dies in Apparent Suicide

A first-year student at the Harvard Medical School committed an apparent suicide in the bathroom of the school's Countway library Thursday, school officials and the police confirm.

Luz Angelica Chavez, who is in her late twenties, died of a gunshot wound to her head, school spokesperson Don Gibbons said.

Chavez and her husband had recently moved to Boston from California.

Her death has stunned the Medical School community, which has not seen a suicide in eight years.

"No students or faculty recognized any warning signs," Gibbons said.

Students received a letter Thursday afternoon from Joseph Martin, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, informing them of the suicide.

Thursday night, students congregated at the Holmes Academic Society to discuss their concerns with each other and with University counselors.

Friday morning, students and faculty also attended a closed-door meeting that was described by Gibbons as "emotional, but helpful."

University staff trained to deal with bereavement will be present at Vanderbilt Hall all day today, and mental health staff will continue to be available for concerned students.

"We are trying to come together as a community and have a community response," said a somber Resident Fellow Reen Carter.

The Harvard University Police Department referred all requests for comment to the Medical School.

Please see Monday's Crimson for complete coverage.