The Seattle police reported that a 19-year-old student was found dead on Sunday night inside a student housing building belonging to the University of Washington.

The young woman, a transgender woman, was found around 10:10 at night in a laundry room in the Nordheim Court Apartments complex, according to authorities cited by ABC News.

The authorities noted that the circumstances that led to the homicide remain under investigation.

Police maintain active search for suspect

The Seattle Police Department indicated that officers continue to search for the alleged person responsible for the crime.

The description released by the authorities states that the suspect is a black man with beard, between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 8 inches tall, dressed in a vest, buttoned shirt and blue jeans.

The university added that the individual would be between 25 and 30 years old, with thin build and black hair.

Following the discovery of the body, the university issued an emergency alert asking residents of Nordheim Court to stay inside their apartments and secure doors and windows. The order was issued at approximately 1:00 a.m.

LGBTQIA community expressed concern

The president of the university, Robert J. Jones, expressed his condolences in an official statement.

“There are no words that can express the deep loss of a student,” he noted.

Jones also acknowledged the concern generated within the LGBTQIA community, indicating that violence against transgender people causes particular alarm among students and members of that community.

The Division of Student Life of the university began to offer psychological support and accompaniment resources for students affected by the event.

The police asked anyone with information about the case to contact the Seattle Police Department's violent crimes line.

So far, authorities have not reported on a possible motive for the crime, nor have they announced any arrests related to the homicide.