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| LSU Chancellor Sean O'Keefe addressed members of the media today at 11 a.m. to discuss new information on the double homicide that occurred last night at the Edward Gay Apartments on campus. The victims, Kiran Kumar Allam, who lived at the Edward Gay Apartments, and Chandrasekhar Reddy Komma, who was visiting Allam at the apartments, were both Ph.D. students at LSU, attending school on student visas. Both men were married. Allam, born in 1974, was from Hyderabad, India, and was studying chemistry. Komma, born in 1976, was from Kurnool, India, and was studying biology. At the request of the victims' families, LSU will not release photos of the two graduate students. LSU PD is serving as the lead law enforcement agency in a task force that has been put together, which includes the Baton Rouge Police Department, the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office and Louisiana State Police, with assistance from the FBI. No new details of the investigation have been released at this time. In addition, there is a heightened security presence on campus, with law enforcement officials being more visible than usual at the Edward Gay Apartments and other housing units on the northwest portion of the campus. Anyone with any information pertaining to this crime, no matter how big or small, is asked to call LSU PD at 225-578-3231. The LSU Foundation has established the Komma & Allam Support Fund to assist the students' families. To contribute to the fund, donors should make checks payable to the LSU Foundation, 3838 West Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808. For more information on the fund, call 225-578-3811. Trained social workers and counselors from the LSU Mental Health Service are available for family and friends of the victims and for any members of the LSU community. For more information on counseling, call 578-3305 or 578-8774. During the fall 2007 semester, LSU had a total of 1,468 international students enrolled at LSU, 332 of whom were from India. That 332 represents the largest group of international students from a single country at LSU this fall. LSU's total student enrollment for the fall semester was 28,019. The Edward Gay Apartments have a total of 288 residents, 94 percent of whom are international students. Nicholson Apartments, which also house a majority of married and international students, have a total of 814 residents, 75 percent of whom are international students. The Indian Student Association will be holding a memorial service for the two men in the Union Cotillion Ballroom from 8-10 p.m. tonight. -30- Related Information
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