Teen Suspect Charged With UNC, Duke Murders
Authorities in Durham, N.C., say they have arrested the second suspect wanted in the slaying of the University of North Carolina's student body president and now he has also been charged with the murder of a Duke University graduate student.
Durham police Lt. Robert McLaughlin Jr. said early Thursday that officers arrested Lawrence Alvin Lovette Jr. at 4:16 a.m. He said the 17-year-old Lovette surrendered to patrol and SWAT officers who had surrounded his home.
Authorities have also charged Lovette with the first-degree murder of 29-year-old Abhijit Mahato who was found shot to death inside his apartment in January. Mahato was a computational mechanics doctoral student at Duke University.
Police on Wednesday arrested 21-year-old Demario James Atwater of Durham for University of North Carolina student Eve Carson's murder. He later made an initial court appearance on charges of first-degree murder and was ordered held without bond.
Twenty-two-year-old student body president Eve Carson was found last week lying on a street about a mile from campus. The biology and political science major from Athens had been shot several times, including once in the right temple.
Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran declined to say which of the suspects shot and killed Carson.
Chapel Hill police and District Attorney Jim Woodall gathered Wednesday afternoon in an Orange County courtroom for Atwater's first appearance. Shackled at the ankles and waist and with a public defender at his side, Atwater whispered "yes" when asked if he understood the charged against him.
Atwater's next appearance is set for March 24. He was ordered held without bond.
"I hope the arrest can ease the minds of some in the community," Woodall said.
In the days after Carson's death, police focused their investigation on a several ATM and convenience store surveillance photos.
Police believe Lovette was pictured in two photos taken at an ATM machine, driving Carson's Toyota Highlander while Atwater is in the back seat. Police also believe Atwater was the suspect shown trying to use Carson's ATM card inside a convenience store.
Curran has previously declined to say when the surveillance photos were taken or the exact location of the ATM machine and convenience store, or if any money was successfully withdrawn from Carson's account.
Both Men Have Criminal Records
State records indicate both suspects are currently on parole. Lovette was given a suspended sentence in January for misdemeanor larceny and breaking and entering. Atwater was convicted of felony breaking and entering in 2005, and illegal possession of a firearm in 2007. He also received a suspended sentence.
Police arrested Atwater Wednesday and they said they believed he was a person of interest in the murder of Carson. Heavily armed officers took the man into custody during an overnight raid in Durham, N.C.
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.
Authorities in Durham, N.C., say they have arrested the second suspect wanted in the slaying of the University of North Carolina's student body president and now he has also been charged with the murder of a Duke University graduate student.
Durham police Lt. Robert McLaughlin Jr. said early Thursday that officers arrested Lawrence Alvin Lovette Jr. at 4:16 a.m. He said the 17-year-old Lovette surrendered to patrol and SWAT officers who had surrounded his home.
Authorities have also charged Lovette with the first-degree murder of 29-year-old Abhijit Mahato who was found shot to death inside his apartment in January. Mahato was a computational mechanics doctoral student at Duke University.
Police on Wednesday arrested 21-year-old Demario James Atwater of Durham for University of North Carolina student Eve Carson's murder. He later made an initial court appearance on charges of first-degree murder and was ordered held without bond.
Twenty-two-year-old student body president Eve Carson was found last week lying on a street about a mile from campus. The biology and political science major from Athens had been shot several times, including once in the right temple.
Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran declined to say which of the suspects shot and killed Carson.
Chapel Hill police and District Attorney Jim Woodall gathered Wednesday afternoon in an Orange County courtroom for Atwater's first appearance. Shackled at the ankles and waist and with a public defender at his side, Atwater whispered "yes" when asked if he understood the charged against him.
Atwater's next appearance is set for March 24. He was ordered held without bond.
"I hope the arrest can ease the minds of some in the community," Woodall said.
In the days after Carson's death, police focused their investigation on a several ATM and convenience store surveillance photos.
Police believe Lovette was pictured in two photos taken at an ATM machine, driving Carson's Toyota Highlander while Atwater is in the back seat. Police also believe Atwater was the suspect shown trying to use Carson's ATM card inside a convenience store.
Curran has previously declined to say when the surveillance photos were taken or the exact location of the ATM machine and convenience store, or if any money was successfully withdrawn from Carson's account.
Both Men Have Criminal Records
State records indicate both suspects are currently on parole. Lovette was given a suspended sentence in January for misdemeanor larceny and breaking and entering. Atwater was convicted of felony breaking and entering in 2005, and illegal possession of a firearm in 2007. He also received a suspended sentence.
Police arrested Atwater Wednesday and they said they believed he was a person of interest in the murder of Carson. Heavily armed officers took the man into custody during an overnight raid in Durham, N.C.
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.
