UT Austin stabbing: Details emerge on student suspected in attack

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Police search for motive in University of Texas attack

Suspect has been identified as 21-year-old Kendrex J. White

New details are starting to emerge about 21-year-old Kendrex J. White, the man accused of killing one person and injuring three others in a stabbing spree on the campus of the University of Texas on Monday afternoon.

White is a junior at the school and is majoring in biology, KXAN reports. On April 4 he was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. White apparently got into a crash when he failed to yield to the right of way when he turned a street corner -- and after police confronted him, he admitted to consuming two “happy pills,” which were later listed as Zoloft, according to the news station.

Police making the arrest on campus. (Police making the arrest on campus.)

ONE KILLED IN STABBING, 3 WOUNDED

One student labeled the stabbing suspect as “very friendly and talkative,” but noted that White had recently been missing classes. When asked why, White told UT student Joshua Anderson that he had other things going on in his life and “that he had to put academics on the back burner for a bit.”

Many students took to social media after the attack, complaining that it took too long for university and campus police to notify them of the danger on campus. But school Chief of Police David Carter argued that they did send out timely alerts and that an officer had responded within minutes.

“So we have a timely warning system. This would have fell within timely warning because there was no ongoing threat. We had him in custody as soon as we arrived,” Carter told KXAN.

“There are no words to describe my sense of loss,” UT President Greg Fenves said. “Campus safety is our highest priority and we will investigate this tragic incident to the greatest extent possible. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, the witnesses to the crime, and every member of Longhorn nation. We all mourn today.”