ATHENS, Ga. — "I don't feel safe anywhere."
That's the sentiment being echoed by University of Georgia sophomore Anika Bhattacharya after she heard the terrifying news that an Augusta University nursing student was found dead on campus Thursday afternoon while she was out on a run.
It all started around noon Thursday when UGA Police received a call from a concerned friend, telling police her friend had gone out for a run and was supposed to return home but hadn't.
Twenty minutes after police received the call, they began searching for the woman, who police said Thursday night was not a UGA student but rather a student at another school. A short while later, her body was found behind Lake Herrick, just a short distance away from the UGA Intramural Fields and a popular campus parking deck.
In an update on Friday, the Clarke County Coroner's Office identified the woman as 22-year-old Laken Riley.
Riley was in a partnership program that allows students to participate in UGA campus life and activities, according to university officials. Riley was also a former student at UGA, but later transferred to the nursing program in Athens.
Police believe foul play is involved, but a suspect has not been identified. On Friday, police said they were questioning a person of interest.
"I run a lot, and so, like, we've just been talking about going and seeing the park here and going for a little run or, like, just walking by, but now, after hearing all of this, I don't feel safe anywhere," said Bhattacharya, who was in the middle of a business exam when she saw the news.
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PHOTOS | Woman found dead on UGA campus
Allison Kramer is also a sophomore at UGA. Her car was parked in the lot next to the school's intramural fields. She said when she tried to take the bus to her car, the lot was blocked by police. After being dropped off at the student center, she said she received the campus-wide alert about the news.
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"I was immediately shaken up, and I called my mom because I was like, 'I don't know what's going on, this is really scary,"' Kramer told 11Alive's Molly Oak. "Because you think we would be safe on campus."
Both students discussed ways they may try to make themselves feel safer on campus moving forward.
"Whenever we're walking by ourselves, like calling, carrying pepper spray," Kramer said.
Bhattacharya said this incident has deterred her from wanting to walk by herself at all while on campus.
"Honestly, I'm not even considering walking by myself much after all this -- at least for the next couple months. I mean, I just don't want to take any chance at all. Stick to the people you're close to."
The students seemed shocked to find out the incident was suspected to be foul play.
"Because you think you would be safe on campus, and my parents always tell me, "Be safe,' but I'm like, 'Oh, I'm on campus I'm fine,'" Kramer said. "And then hearing this is just like, I need to take care of my safety."
UGA's police chief, Jeff Clark, said in a press conference Thursday night that this would be the first homicide case investigated on the UGA campus in at least the last 20 years.
There is no suspect at this time.
All University of Georgia classes were canceled Thursday evening along with classes for Friday. They will resume after the weekend on Monday, the school said in a statement.