Person of interest being questioned in killing of Laken Riley at the University of Georgia

Georgia police on Friday detained a person of interest in the slaying of 22-year-old Laken Riley, a nursing student who was found dead in a wooded area on the University of Georgia's main campus in Athens.

James Hataway, a spokesperson for the university, said the person was being questioned in connection with the case; he did not release the name of the detainee.

"We want to stress that this continues to be an active, ongoing investigation, and we will provide further updates when circumstances warrant," Hataway said.

Riley, a former UGA student, was a junior at the Augusta University College of Nursing in Athens when she went missing Thursday after going for a run. A friend reported to UGA police around noon that Riley had not returned, sparking a search of the area near the campus' intermural fields, UGA Police Chief Jeffrey L. Clark said in a news conference Thursday night. Officers soon found Riley unconscious, not breathing and with "visible injuries" in a wooded area behind Lake Herrick, near several playing fields, tennis courts and miles of walking and biking trails.

Paramedics arrived and determined she was deceased at the scene, the chief said. Athens-Clarke County Corner Sonny Wilson told the Athens Banner-Herald, part of the USA TODAY network, an autopsy is underway at the state crime lab to determine the cause of death.

Classes canceled at UGA, Augusta University

There was another death investigated on UGA's campus at student dormitory on Wednesday, but foul play is not suspected and Clark said it was not connected with Thursday’s homicide case.

UGA canceled classes after 5:30 p.m. Thursday as well as those scheduled for Friday, a statement said. University officials encouraged students to use the facility's counseling and psychiatric services, citing the two unrelated death investigations.

“The past 24 hours have been a traumatic time for our University. Our student body is grieving the sudden death of one of our students in Brumby Hall last night,” the statement said. “And as we continue to mourn that tragic loss of life, today’s devastating news will uniquely test the resolve of our campus community, particularly our students.”

Classes at Augusta University's campus in Athens were canceled on Friday, according to a statement from Kell, university president, who said news of the student's death was "shocking."

Though classes were canceled, the Athens campus will remain open "as gathering place for students, faculty and staff to receive care and counseling as needed," the statement said. Counsels were on-site beginning Friday for College of Nursing students.

Kelly Girtz, the mayor of the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government, said in a statement on social media Thursday that he, along with his colleagues, is "in deep sadness over today's murder in our city."

"We promise to do everything possible to collaborate with UGA PD to bring this investigation to a rapid conclusion, and will continue to work overtime to prevent future tragedies," Girtz said.

First homicide on UGA grounds in decades

The homicide on campus grounds is the first since Dec. 21, 1983, when UGA student Donna Lynn Allen was walking to her car and was attacked by an assailant who fatally stabbed her. A suspect was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison for murder.

Two other unsolved slayings of UGA female students occurred off campus.