BREAKING UPDATE: 10:20 a.m. - January 6
Columbus police say a homicide near the Ohio State University campus appears to be drug related.
Investigators say they seized illegal drugs and weapons from the home, as well as cash.
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Original story:
Columbus Police are investigating its first homicide of the year after a 20-year-old Ohio State University student was shot and killed early Thursday morning.
Investigators say they found 20-year-old Tarak Andrew Underiner unresponsive with several gunshot wounds inside a home on East Northwood Avenue, near High Street.
The call came just after 12:30 a.m. from someone inside the home who told police he heard gunshots and found Underiner collapsed on the floor of his bedroom.
The caller told a police dispatcher he heard someone leave the house, but didn't see the suspect.
Investigators say Underiner was shot several times.
Police said they have no suspects in the murder of Underiner, but investigators say they're confident his murder is not a random act of violence.
They said they do not believe the shooting was random and there are no connections to the university.
Police said they’ll search the vicitm's phone in hopes it will reveal who Underliner was talking to in the hours leading up to the murder.
10TV has learned the off campus neighborhood, which is home to many Ohio State students students, has had its share of trouble.
Police reports filed between September 1, 2015 and January 5, 017 reveal that within one mile of the crime scene, Columbus police have investigated five felony assault reports and 17 robbery reports.
10TV narrowed the search perimeter to a half mile radius and found during the same time frame, more than four dozen people reported someone burglarized their home.
The Ohio State University's Communication Department says Underiner was a student from the Cincinnati area. He was a senior, majoring in Spanish and marketing.
Statement from The Ohio State University:
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Tarak Underiner during this extremely difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences. Counseling and consultation services are available for those in need of support.