Rhodes College was buttoned up to outsiders Monday, its students crisscrossed streets in the neighborhood in a shell-shocked mix of grief and anxiety that a man wanted in the home invasion and fatal shooting of classmate Andrew Rainer over the weekend may be targeting others. 

Rainer was a 2018 graduate of Christian Brothers High School. He was majoring in English. He had been recognized for academic excellence, earning the Clarence Day Scholarship for leadership qualities. He also served as chaplain for the Epsilon Sigma Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity, according to a statement Rhodes released Monday afternoon.

A private candlelight vigil was held at 6:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4, at the Troutt Quad on campus.

One Rhodes student killed, one injured in Sunday shooting

“Drew’s death is a deeply felt loss to the Rhodes College family, especially his classmates, friends, fraternity brothers, faculty, staff and the Memphis community, where he grew up and his family still lives,” Rhodes said in a statement.

“We have been in touch with Drew’s parents and have extended our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies.”

Memphis police say a female associated with the four individuals in the home invasion helped identify the main suspect, Rainess Holmes, 36.

A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

“The U.S. Marshal will help lead this investigation from the apprehension standpoint,” said Memphis Police Department Assistant Chief Shawn Jones.

He will be charged with first-degree murder, two counts of especially aggravated robbery, three counts of aggravated burglary and murder in perpetration of aggravated burglary.

The suspect was in a stolen Jeep and ran when officers arrived on the scene, Jones said. He dropped the ID card of a Rhodes student when he fled. 

The informant has not identified the three other people involved. She did have a ring in her possession that belonged to a Rhodes fraternity member, and police think other home invasions in the area may be related.

MPD, Mayor Jim Strickland’s office and Rhodes met early Monday to talk about strategies for improving safety in the area that both will share. 

“I just like to say, once again, maybe with a little more detail, how much I appreciate the discipline and practical approach that the city has taken to address itself to this problem,” said Rhodes interim president Carroll D. Stevens.

“And let me give you just one example. It turns out the alleys in this neighborhood are all overgrown and provide lots of places for perpetrators to hide themselves. The chief operating officer said this morning those will be mowed and cleaned out today,” he said.

“We just couldn’t appreciate more the big ideas and the big hearts that you have brought to this discussion.”

Police are processing evidence from the Jeep, including possible fingerprints and DNA.

That data likely will give MPD more information about who the other three people are involved in the crime, Jones said.

Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said it is not clear if other burglaries in the area were related, “but there are some recurring themes that lead us to believe that is a good possibility,” she said.

Rhodes has told staff and students to remove parking decals from their vehicles and take extreme precaution, including locking cars and homes.

“It’s a heavy time,” said sophomore Ryan Gallagher. “I’ve reached out to my friends through social media, making sure everyone has a safe ride and from campus, making sure no one is walking alone.”

Arrest warrant issued in fatal shooting of Rhodes student

“Right now, I am going to take the parking sticker off my car,” Gallagher said.

Several people associated with Rhodes, including sophomore Daniel Hicks, say that another off-campus home rented by Rhodes students was targeted in the same neighborhood early Sunday morning.

The intruders, they say, left that house and later showed up at 703 N. McLean where the fatal home invasion occurred.

“The rumor is they feel we are being targeted right now,” said Hicks, a member of the Rhodes baseball team.

Chief Davis says evidence suggests the fatal home invasion may not have been a random act.

“There could have been some planning involved in this. We just don’t know enough just yet to be able to say. We’re looking at every piece of information that we can.

“We’re also looking at cameras in the area, calls for service in the area, in any other nexus or connection to any of the previous crimes in that area that could point to a coordinated effort here,” she said.

Sunday, Rhodes invited off-campus students to stay in empty dorm rooms on campus and offered counseling.

Classes were canceled Monday.

In a small, close-knit community like Rhodes, a tragedy is devastating, said Barron Boyd, former director of Rhodes’ Buckman Center for International Education.

“The leadership team has planned for it. They have scenarios they run to know whom to contact, how to work through it. Until something actually happens like this, there is no way to anticipate it,” he said.

“The biggest issue that everyone needs to deal with is the fog of misinformation or lack of information,” Boyd said. “They (police) release enough information to let people know what had happened, but still unless you know who it was, it’s even more difficult.”

Students Monday said they were trying to process the active threat, their grief and keep in touch with their parents.

“It’s eerie. You walk around and see students and wonder what they are thinking,” said Faith Askew. “What’s going on in their head? Are they OK? Is the situation going to pass or not? We don’t know.”

Friends of hers, “a houseful of girls,” have moved on campus temporarily, she said.

“They were terrified.”

Askew’s mother in Houston, Texas is also “a little terrified,” she said.

“I’m keeping my mom updated. I am her child. It’s a very fearful time for her.”

MPD is providing extra patrol cars in the Rhodes area now and will be adding officers dedicated to the patrol. 

In the meantime, Rhodes is asking students and faculty to call 911 first with emergencies and then alert campus police, who are unarmed.

The college is continuing to offer off-campus students lodging on campus while the investigation continues. Students who would like to stay on campus should report directly to the campus safety building at Tutwiler and University with their overnight things.

Rhodes is also honoring requests for students who would like remote access to classes through Friday, Oct. 15.

Classes will resume after fall break on Oct. 20.