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Vigil Held For UC Davis Student Found Dead With Roommate

DAVIS (CBS13) - The Davis community is desperate for answers as they remember two people killed in what police believe may be a murder-suicide.

Dozens of people turned out for a candlelight vigil at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital to share their memories of Whitney Engler.

The fourth-year veterinary student and her roommate Joe Hein were found shot to death at their Davis home on Thursday.

Friends told the crowd the 27-year-old had a promising career in front of her.

"We didn't just lose a loved one and a family member, we lost a remarkable professional and a true veterinarian -- someone who would have made a difference," said a mourner.

Police say a suspected shooter called 911 on Thursday night, reporting the shooting death of two people inside of a home in the 2200 block of Glacier Drive. With little information to go on, police thought it was an ambush and set up a perimeter. Hours later, police entered the home and found the bodies of 27-year-old Engler and her roommate, 23-year-old Joe Hein. They had been shot.

Police believe Hein was the shooter and had called police before he killed Engler and himself.

Friends and family are searching for Engler's service dog, Rosie, who bolted from the scene when investigators moved in.

 

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