A student at the university of Hofstra was killed early Friday morning after a home invasion ended in a police shootout, and people are still looking for answers as to just what happened during the woman's final moments.

The victim, Andrea Rebello, was a junior at Hofstra and was at a home she had rented with several other Hofstra students in Uniondale, New York. At the time of the invasion, there were three women and one man in the residence.

"During the course of the robbery, the suspect let one of the female victims go from the house," said Inspector Kenneth Lack of the Nassau County Police Department. She immediately called 911, and police responded. "Upon arrival, there was a shooting that took place in which the suspect was killed and one female victim was killed."

The intruder is alleged to have come into the house at around 2:20 a.m. He was wearing a ski mask and had a handgun with him. The woman that he let go turned out to be Rebello's twin sister.

"It sounded like a bunch of drunk college students on a Thursday night and then it just got very loud," said neighbor Victoria Dehel. "I was with my boyfriend, and we were just listening. And then the screaming just got worse and worse and worse. And then we heard thuds, like five bangs."

Those five bangs that the neighbor hear occurred just before police arrived at the scene, and it is likely that Rebello was killed by one of the intruder's bullets. Once the police arrived, a shootout ensued, thus leading to the confusion of who was responsible for the woman's death.

This tragic event comes just days before the graduation ceremonies for the school, undoubtedly casting a shadow on the proceedings. The community, however, remains resilient.

"While our hearts are laden with grief, this weekend's commencement ceremonies will go on as scheduled," Rabinowitz wrote. "The accomplishments of our graduates must be recognized, and together our community will heal and find the strength to move forward."