MERCED, Calif. – Police are investigating the death of a freshman engineering student at University of California (UC) Merced who was found dead outside a dorm with head wounds.
Students discovered the body of Hector Hugo Barrera-Barraza, 18, on their way to the cafeteria the morning of March 17. Found with a head wound and no pulse, Barrer-Barraza was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to Mercy Medical Center Merced. Police await the results of an autopsy to aid in their investigation of the suspicious death.
The tragedy marks the first death on campus since it opened as the newest University of California institution in the fall of 2005. The university chancellor, police chief and director of housing and residence life consoled a gathering of about 200 students shaken by the incident. About 50 students held a candlelight vigil on campus March 18. Nearly 400 of the university’s 1,200 students live on campus.Barrera-Barraza had last been seen leaving campus Friday night to meet with friends in Merced. He was later spotted back on campus. UC Merced campus police are responsible for investigating the death.
