The Boston Police Department identified the victim of the Allston shooting as Kanagala Seshadri Rao Saturday afternoon, according to the police blog.
BU spokesman Colin Riley confirmed the identity of the Boston University Graduate School of Management student, who was shot and killed Thursday at 139 Allston St. at around 2:43 a.m.
“We’re truly saddened by his death and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends,” Riley said in an email. “He was extremely well-liked and an exceptional student in a highly competitive master’s degree program in the Graduate School of Management.”
The roommate of the victim declined to comment.
In light of the recent homicide, a number of students said they are more aware of the possibility of violence in Allston.
Amey Owen, a College of Communication and College of Arts and Sciences senior, said she lives down the street from the crime scene, but generally feels safe in Allston.
“This doesn’t really change my perception of Allston,” she said, “but it does make me more aware of my surroundings.”
Natalie Viola, 21, who attends Harvard Extension School, said she felt less safe walking down Allston Street after the shooting.
“I just didn’t even go down [Allston Street] for a couple of days,” Wakelin said. “[I] avoided it at nights, but I only walk [Allston Street] during the day.”
Kristyn Wakelin, a School of Social Work graduate student, said Allston isn’t always ominous, but there are disconcerting places.
“The weekends are fine,” Wakelin said. “During weekdays sometimes you have to be aware of where you are.”
Chris Davidson, an Allston resident and Northeastern University senior, said at first he found the news startling.
“I’ve lived here for almost three years, and this is the first time that anything’s ever happened like this,” Davidson said.
Davidson said, however, that he does not feel concerned because it appears to be an isolated incident.
“It was kind of shocking at first,” he said, “but I feel like this area’s pretty safe.”
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