Campus Alert Archive
Rhodes

Shot Over an iPad Password: The Murder of Drew Rainer and the Home Invasion That Put Rhodes College Students on High Alert

TNhomicidetimely warningmedium confidence

In the early morning hours of Sunday, October 3, 2021, four masked men broke into a student house in Midtown Memphis at 703 North McLean Boulevard at 5:40 AM CDT and demanded electronics at gunpoint. When 22-year-old Rhodes College senior Andrew 'Drew' Rainer refused to give up his iPad password, he was shot in the chest and killed. A second person was shot in the hand. Rhodes College issued a timely warning urging students to exercise caution, and Memphis Police issued a warrant for suspect Rainess Holmes III, who was later convicted. Holmes pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2025 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
1
Injured
1
Institution
Rhodes College
Private Liberal Arts · TN
Rhodes Alerts
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction293 chars
Rhodes Campus Safety Alert: A shooting occurred early this morning near campus at 703 North McLean Blvd. One student was killed. Memphis Police are investigating. Exercise caution in the surrounding area. A suspect has been identified and a warrant issued. Contact Memphis PD with information.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Sent Sunday morning October 3, 2021 after the 5:40 AM CDT home invasion -- the alert described a suspected home invader who 'had targeted student housing in the last 48 hours and may be on foot or in a small green Jeep SUV'
The 703 North McLean Boulevard address is in the Midtown Memphis neighborhood adjacent to Rhodes College's campus -- the area is popular for off-campus student housing
The alert was notable for including a vehicle description (small green Jeep SUV) and warning that the suspect had targeted student housing, creating a targeted timely warning rather than a generic campus safety notice
FOLLOW-UPEmail
Approximate reconstruction387 chars
From Rhodes College Campus Safety: Memphis Police have issued an arrest warrant for Rainess Holmes III in connection with the fatal shooting of Rhodes College senior Andrew Rainer on October 3, 2021. The suspect may be armed and dangerous. Do not approach. Call 901-545-2677 if you have information. The College is providing counseling support to affected students and community members.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Sent Monday October 4, 2021 after Memphis Police identified Rainess Holmes III as the suspect and issued an arrest warrant -- Holmes was one of four men in the house but not the shooter
The follow-up alert reflects the Clery Act timely warning function: when a suspect is identified and remains at large, a follow-up warning to the campus community is appropriate
The homicide was off-campus in student housing, consistent with the Clery Act's coverage of non-campus property where students regularly reside
Context

Background

In the early morning hours of October 3, 2021, four men with hoodies drawn over their faces kicked in the front door of a house at 703 North McLean Boulevard in Midtown Memphis -- an address in the off-campus student housing area adjacent to Rhodes College, a private liberal arts institution founded in 1848. Five Rhodes College students were inside. The men demanded electronics and the password to Drew Rainer's iPad. When 22-year-old senior Drew Rainer refused to give up the password, he was shot in the chest. A second person was shot in the hand. Rainer died, making him the first Rhodes student killed in a criminal incident in memory. Memphis Police issued an arrest warrant for Rainess Holmes III, one of the four intruders, who was not the shooter but was present. Holmes pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 2025 and was sentenced to 20 years. The three other men involved in the invasion had not been charged as of early 2026. Rhodes issued a timely warning urging students to be cautious in the surrounding area, noting the suspect may have targeted other student housing in the preceding 48 hours. The case raises ongoing questions about off-campus student safety in Midtown Memphis, where many Rhodes students rent housing in the surrounding residential blocks.
Analysis

Key Findings

The shooting occurred in off-campus student housing adjacent to the Rhodes campus -- a legal Clery Act 'non-campus property' that triggers the timely warning obligation when a crime of violence occurs
The alert included a specific suspect vehicle description (small green Jeep SUV), indicating Memphis Police shared enough information for Rhodes to issue a targeted rather than generic warning
Rainess Holmes III pleaded guilty in 2025 to second-degree murder -- more than three years after the killing -- underscoring the slow pace of justice in cases with multiple unnamed co-conspirators
Outcome
Rainess Holmes III pled guilty to second-degree murder in 2025 and was sentenced to 20 years. Three other men involved in the home invasion were still being sought as of early 2026. Rainer's death prompted significant grief across the Rhodes community.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Rhodes College IDs student killed in off-campus home invasion; warrant issued for suspect (Action News 5)
    actionnews5.com
  2. News
    Rhodes identifies student killed in shooting (WREG Memphis)
    wreg.com
  3. News
    Man pleads guilty to 2021 murder of Rhodes College student (Fox13 Memphis)
    fox13memphis.com
  4. News
    Man sentenced to 20 years in prison over murder of Rhodes College student (Action News 5)
    actionnews5.com
  5. News
    One killed, one injured in shooting near Rhodes College (WREG)
    wreg.com
Tags
homicidetimely-warningoff-campushome-invasionmemphistennesseeprivate-liberal-artsstudent-victimrobberynon-campus-property
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion