Jonathan Mills

UNC slaying suspect charged - msnbc.com:

Suspect in UNC student’s slaying is charged

21-year-old man faces first-degree murder charge in Eve Carson’s death

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. - Authorities have charged a suspect in the slaying of University of North Carolina student body president Eve Carson with first-degree murder.

Documents filed Wednesday named the defendant as 21-year-old Demario James Atwater, of Durham.

Chapel Hill police and District Attorney Jim Woodall gathered Wednesday afternoon in an Orange County courtroom for Atwater’s first appearance.

With his public defender at his side, a shackled Atwater whispered, “Yes,” when asked if he understood the charged against him.

Woodall asked that Atwater’s next appearance be set for March 24.

The 22-year-old Carson was found last Wednesday lying on a street about a mile from campus. The biology and political science major from Athens, Ga., had been shot several times, including once in the right temple.

Her body was positively identified the next day, leaving to a massive outpouring of grief at North Carolina. Thousands gathered that day at two campus memorial services, and a third is planned for next week at the school’s basketball arena.

Carson was in a four-year leadership development program for undergraduates, taught science at Chapel Hill elementary schools and spent summers volunteering in such places as Ecuador, Egypt and Ghana.

The Board of Trustees at the University of North Carolina had offered a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in her death, and police received hundreds of tips after the first two photos were released over the weekend.

Via MSNBC

No. 1 North Carolina 76, No. 6 Duke 68: North Carolina Pulls Away From Duke:
North Carolina beat Duke in a finish that will no doubt be added to the list of highlight-reel games that have marked the series.

“Tyler Hansbrough’s layup with just over two minutes to go broke a 68-68 tie and Ty Lawson added a pair of free throws and a crucial steal as North Carolina (29-2) staved off a comeback by Duke (26-4) and held on for the victory. Lawson missed on his layup, but the ball was tipped in by Danny Green with under a minute to go for a decisive 6-point advantage. North Carolina scored 10 consecutive points to overcome a 2-point deficit in the final minutes.”

“The teams had come in with identical 13-2 record in the A.C.C., the fifth time in this long series that the title had come down to the final game of the season. But that was not all that weighed on the Tar Heels. This had been an emotional week in Chapel Hill, 10 miles down the road from Duke. And for once, the two teams set aside their rivalry long enough to stand together for a moment of silence to honor Eve Carson, the North Carolina student body president who was found shot to death near the campus early Wednesday morning.”

“The Tar Heels, wearing an ‘EVE‘ patch on the shoulders of their jerseys, proceeded to outplay Duke in a first half that would have been a runaway for North Carolina if not for Blue Devils point guard Greg Paulus. Green scored 14 points off the bench to pace the Tar Heels as they pulled away for a 42-31 lead in the opening half.”

Via NYT > Home Page

from the Daily Tar Heel:
Student Body President found dead - University

Student Body President Eve Carson was shot and killed early Wednesday morning, Chapel Hill police confirmed today.

Police said they are looking for Carson’s vehicle - a blue 2005 Toyota Highlander - believed to have been stolen in the incident. The license plate is AIV 6690, registered in Georgia.

There are no suspects at this time. Chapel Hill Police Lt. Kevin Gunter said that she was shot multiple times, at least once in the head, but that police believe the shooting to be a random act at this point in the investigation.

Eve Carson, 1985–2008: Carolina loses a special person