The Chapel Hill Police Department is continuing to search for new leads in identifying the murderer of UNC-Chapel Hill Student Body President Eve Carson, with the UNC-CH Board of Trustees committing $25,000 for information that could lead to an arrest.
Chapel Hill police found Carson’s body Wednesday morning, and UNC-CH administrators alerted students of the shooting of an unknown person through e-mails and emergency text message alerts.
Police then confirmed her identity Thursday around noon and are investigating leads on the case.
Officers located Carson’s car, a blue 2005 Toyota Highlander, near North Street at 2 p.m. Thursday after receiving calls about it.
The Chapel Hill Police Department is still investigating the incident and does not have a suspect or motive, according to Chief Brian Curran.
After tracking the use of Carson’s credit card, police obtained photos from an ATM security camera of a person using her card who is now a suspect in the case, and released the photos Saturday during a press conference.
“This is our strongest lead right now and we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to get this guy identified,” Curran said.
Police confirmed the vehicle, which a black male in his late teens to early 20s was driving, as Carson’s car.
“At this point, it feels like a random crime,” he said.
Curran said officials have found the keys to her vehicle but have not yet found her wallet.
In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Curran said police had filed a court subpoena for Carson’s cell phone records.
According to the News and Observer, Chapel Hill police officers think there may have been another person in the car with the first suspect.
Carson, a native of Athens, Ga., was a Morehead-Cain scholar and a double major in political science and biology, according to a release UNC-CH Chancellor James Moeser posted on the university’s Web site.
But people in Chapel Hill are not the only ones concerned about the case.
Student leaders across the UNC System are discussing ways to commemorate the life of Carson and assist those who were close to her.
“The main thing we’re doing now is trying to support the folks at UNC as needed,” Student Senate President Greg Doucette said.
Proposals include creating the “Eve Carson Institute for Excellence in Student and Public Leadership” and starting the “UNC Hope Torch Relay.”
Part of the institute’s mission would be to follow what Carson constantly preached, according to the proposal, “efficiency, vision, everyone.”
The torch relay will have the different universities’ track teams begin the race at either Western Carolina, UNC-Wilmington or Elizabeth State University and race toward UNC-Chapel Hill, passing off the torch to different universities along the way. A Hope-Unity prayer and closing video of Carson’s life would complete the race.
Doucette, a senior in computer science, said student senators at N.C. State are drafting legislation to discuss commemorating Carson and maybe even prompting discussion on NCSU donating money to the UNC-CH Eve Carson Memorial Fund.
“The main thing now is taking care of the human element and the folks who are mourning to try and help them out,” he said.
Although a shooting of female student at Auburn University Tuesday prompted Chapel Hill Police to contact Auburn University Police because the case seemed similar in nature, Curran said the incidents do not seem to be linked at this time.
Lauren Burk, also a native of Georgia, was murdered Tuesday and her car was later found in flames. Police arrested Courtney Lockhart for the murder March 8.
Curran asked for the public’s help with finding the suspect, urging anyone to call the police at 919-968-2760 or Crime Stoppers at 919-942-7515 with information that they think may help.
