Four University of Idaho students are seen smiling in photograph hours before they were found dead in off-campus housing on Sunday

Police consider their deaths as a homicide and all classes are canceled

Dead students identified as  20-year-old Ethan Chapin, 21-year-old Madison Mogen, 20-year-old Xana Kernodle and 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves

The four University of Idaho students who were found dead in off-campus housing Sunday have been identified.
According to Moscow police, 20-year-old Ethan Chapin, 21-year-old Madison Mogen, 20-year-old Xana Kernodle and 21-year-old Kaylee Goncalves died in a homicide at their off-campus house on King Road.
University officials say Chapin, of Conway, Washington, was a freshman at the school studying recreation, sport and tourism management, and Kernodle, of Avondale, Arizona, was a junior majoring in marketing. 
She was a member of the Phi Beta Phi sorority.
The two seemed to be dating, according to their social media profiles. 
Mogen, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, meanwhile, was a senior also majoring in marketing, who was also a member of the Phi Beta Phi sorority.
And Goncalves, of Rathdrum, Idaho, was a senior majoring in general studies in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences. She was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority.
Just hours before her death, Goncalves posted pictures of her with Mogen, Kernodle and Chapin outside a house.

Goncalves, of Rathdrum, Idaho, left, and Mogen, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho were good friends despite being in separate sororities.
Chapin, of Conway, Washington, and Xana Kernodle, of Avondale, Arizona, appeared to be in a relationship before they were killed.
Kernodle and Mogen were both members of the Phi Beta Phi sorority studying marketing. Chapin was just a freshman at the school, university officials say, while Goncalves was a senior majoring in general studies in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences

Police in Idaho said they responded to a call of an unconscious person at the home just before noon on Sunday.
When they arrived at the scene, they found all four people dead in a ‘house that was converted into an apartment,’ Police Capt. Tyson Berrett told the Idaho Statesman.
He later announced that all four students were students at the university, which the school also disclosed in a news release. 
It remains unclear how the victims died, but local police are considering it a homicide. 
Police have not taken any suspects into custody as of Monday, but say they do not believe there is a threat to the rest of the school community.
Authorities are now asking anyone with information about the apparent murders to call (208) 882 -2677.

In a statement on Monday, school President Scott Greene shared how he and his wife are heartbroken by the news.
‘Words cannot adequately describe the light these students brought to this world or ease the depth of suffering we feel at their passing under these tragic circumstances,’ he wrote.
‘No one feels that loss more than their families and friends. The university is working directly with those affected and is committed to supporting all students, families and employees as this event undeniably touches all of us. ‘
He added that he is asking all professors to ‘be empathetic, flexible and to work with our students who desire to return home to spend time with their families. 
‘We do not know the investigation timeline, but we will continue to communicate to campus as we learn more. 

The school originally posted an alert on social media at 3.07pm Sunday saying police were investigating a homicide nearby.
The post said the suspect was not known at the time, and school officials advised students to stay away from the area and shelter in place.
By 3.46pm, the school put out a second alert that said police did not believe there was an active threat, and the ‘shelter in place’ advisory was lifted.
Still, school officials warned students to ‘remain vigilant.’ 
In an ensuing email, university officials told student that all Monday classes would be canceled ‘out of respect for those fellow Vandals,’ referring to the school’s mascot.
The university said counselors would be available for students at the campus counseling center, while employees could access assistance through an employee assistance program.

The university said counselors would be available for students at the campus counseling center, while employees could access assistance through an employee assistance program.
Green urged people to reach out if they were concerned about classmates or coworkers.
‘An event of this magnitude can understandably have significant impacts on those left behind,’ he wrote. ‘As Vandals, we must come together and lift each other up.’
Following the news of their deaths, students flocked to Chapin’s Instagram page expressing their grief.
‘Too young too soon. Fly high baby! We’ll be there soon,’ Jacob Perez wrote on his most recent post documenting events from his freshman year.
‘Forever grateful to have you in my life,’ another wrote.
Chapin appeared to have been dating Kernodle, who posted photos of them on October 29 as she wished him a happy birthday.
‘Happiest of birthdays to Ethan Chapin,’ she wrote. ‘Life is so much better with you in it, love you!’