IRVINE, Calif.—Two individuals involved in an apparent murder-suicide at the University of California–Irvine were identified Dec. 14 as a mother and son.
The victim was 77-year-old Thao Thai Nguyen, of Irvine, and the suspect was 36-year-old Andrew Nguyen Doan, of Irvine, according to Orange County sheriff’s Sgt. Scott Steinle.
UC Irvine police were called at 3:52 p.m. Dec. 13 to 214 Pereira Drive, Social Science Plaza B, after receiving emergency calls about the bodies on the ground outside of a multi-story building, Irvine police reported.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the man and woman deceased. Detectives discovered evidence suggesting this incident is a murder-suicide. Irvine police said Doan threw his mother from the “landing of a multi-story building,” from about the fourth or fifth floor and then jumped to his death from the same landing.
Police say to have had contact with Doan multiple times in the past, the most recent in 2019 for a service call regarding mental health concerns.
Doan was a student at the university from September 2017 through June 2019, majoring in biological sciences, according to UCI spokesman Tom Vasich. Doan did not graduate, Vasich said.
The Irvine Police Department is leading the investigation. It was initially called to assist the university police in the investigation, according to a statement from the police department.
Further details of the incident were not released. Authorities said that it is an isolated incident and there is no ongoing danger to the community.
The university also released a statement saying that members of the school community have been contacted to assist in the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Irvine Police Detective John Sanders at 949-724-7233 or contact the UCI Police Department at 949-824-5223.
