Man, 36, threw his mom off UC Irvine campus building before jumping to his death

A former student at the University of California, Irvine, threw his elderly mother off a campus building before jumping to his death. 

Two bodies were discovered outside the School of Social Sciences on the UC Irvine campus just before 4pm Tuesday, police said, in what is being investigated as a murder-suicide. 

The pair have now been identified as Andrew Nguyen Doan, 36, and his mother, Thoa Thai Nguyen, 77. 

The most recent deaths come less than 10 years after 25-year-old Maxwell Chorak also jumped to his death from the social sciences building on the UC Irvine campus.

A former student at the University of California, Irvine, threw his elderly mother off a campus building before jumping to his death

'The investigation has determined Doan picked up Nguyen and threw her off the landing of a multistory building. Doan then jumped from the same landing to his death,' police said in a statement. 

Upon arrival at the scene, police found both Doan and Nguyen dead from their injuries.  The motive in the suspected murder-suicide is under investigation at this time. 

According to officials, police had been called on Doan multiple times. 

In 2019, law enforcement had been called on the former student for 'mental health concerns,' Irvine Police stated. 

'IPD has record of contacting Doan multiple times in the past,' police said in a statement Wednesday evening. 'The last call for service involving mental health concerns was in 2019.'

Doan had attended UC Irvine and studied biological sciences from September 2017 to June 2019. 

However, he did not graduate from the California school, a UC Irvine spokesperson said.  

The pair have now been identified as Andrew Nguyen Doan, 36, and his mother, Thoa Thai Nguyen, 77

Overhead video and pictures from the scene show police investigating after tents were put up to cover the bodies and the scene 

In 2019, law enforcement had been called on the former student for 'mental health concerns,' Irvine Police said 

Doan had attended UC Irvine and studied biological sciences from September 2017 to June 2019

On Tuesday, Chancellor Howard Gillman said the school is working with police. 

'At such a time, our primary thoughts are with the victims and their families,' Gillman said. 

'But there are also members of the UCI community who have been contacted to assist with the investigation and to share their knowledge of what may have happened,' the chancellor stated. 

Photos and videos from local media Tuesday evening showed police investigating just outside the B Building as tents had been set up to cover up the bodies. 

This is the scene near where the bodies of Doan and Nguyen were discovered 

Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Sgt. Scott Steinle said the cause of death for Doan appeared to be 'external trauma.' 

Official autopsies for Doan and Nguyen are pending at this time.

Court records indicate Doan had run ins with the law previously even pleading guilty to one count of felony sexual assault in 2020. The incident occurred in 2019 at a mental hospital where he was staying for a period. 

Doan had battered his roommate at the hospital, Orange County District Attorney's Office Kimberly Edds told one local outlet. 

Nguyen posted $100,000 bail for her son, and Doan later served 156 days in jail. The judge gave him a three year probation. The probation ended in July.  

Official autopsies for Doan and Nguyen are pending at this time

'[Doan] had demons,' a neighbor said. 'It’s a horrible thing'

Michael Bertin, a neighbor of Doan and Nguyen described the 36-year-old as 'a troubled young man' while speaking to the Orange County Register. 

'[Doan] had demons,' the neighbor said. 'It’s a horrible thing.' 

Her Orange County neighbors told the outlet they called the woman as 'Theresa' and regarded her as kind, but withdrawn. 

Bertin also said he did not remember the two ever fighting or arguing. 

Police closed off the area to the public as they investigated

The bodies of the mother and son were discovered Tuesday evening 

The school's community is now reeling as they come to terms with another death in the same plaza. 

The Los Angeles Times reported Chorak died in the same plaza where Nguyen’s and Doan’s bodies were found. 

Chorak’s stepfather said in 2014 his stepson had suffered from mental health issues.

He wrote of the building: 'The parking structure had suicide prevention tiles with hot line numbers cemented into the walls from the third floor upwards. It was the culmination of every parent’s worst nightmare.'

If you or a loved one needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255.