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Gallaudet student death classified as homicide

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A 19-year-old student found dead at his dormitory at a university for the deaf died of multiple stab wounds to his face and body, a police spokesman said Sunday.

Benjamin Varner, who attended Gallaudet University, was discovered in his room at Cogswell Hall early Saturday morning after a fire alarm went off in the building. There was no fire or smoke in the dormitory.

While classifying this killing as a homicide, Gallaudet officials and Washington police said the killing did not seem to be related to another four months ago in the same dormitory.

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The killing of freshman Eric Plunkett, 19, remains unsolved.

Police Chief Charles Ramsey said "there is no evidence to link the two" and that such a presumption would be premature at this point in the investigation. More than a hundred interviews had been conducted in connection with Varner's death, and the FBI has been called in to assist with forensics.

Gallaudet University Provost Jane Fernandes said security on campus had increased after Plunkett's death, but she added, "we became a little more lax, a little more lenient with security at the front gate" since that time.

Chris Soukup, student body government president, said there was anxiety and tension around the campus but said the school administration was being very open about the investigation. He described Varner as a very quiet and studious young man who, according to his residential advisor, called his mother every night.

Varner's parents arrived on campus Sunday.

Gallaudet University

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