UW Bothell held vigil for Mukilteo shooting victim

BOTHELL, Wash. — Its Bothell campus flag flying at half-staff, its students and faculty in tears, the University of Washington paid tribute to a 19-year-old whose academic life was just getting started.

Anna Bui was remembered as the bright student with the beautiful voice, who hoped to become a doctor.

"I learned through conversations that she was intelligent," Leah Shin told those assembled. "She was strong. She was not only beautiful, as you can see in the pictures above. But she was also beautiful inside."

"The first day of class, I looked at her, I said, 'Wow, she's smart,' " said Hannah McNeal.  "She has a lot going for her."

McNeal was in class with Bui and 19-year-old Allen Ivanov, the suspected shooter.

"And I would walk with them," she said.  "And they looked so happy. And he was so smart. He was so smart just like her. They were the perfect couple."

According to court documents, the "perfect couple" broke up a couple of months ago.

That set the grim stage for the devastating assault at this home in Mukilteo's tony Chennault neighborhood; the murders of Bui and two of her Kamiak High School classmates, Jake Long and Jordan Ebner.

All of it has McNeal and others who went to school with Ivanov baffled.

"I would have never expected this from him," said McNeal.  "Never in a million years would I expect him to do something like this."

A lot of people have said the same thing over the last couple of days.

By the way, no one mentioned Ivanov's name during the vigil itself.

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Cox Media Group