UNC student body president shot dead

Thousands gathered Thursday night to remember Eve Carson, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill senior and student body president, who was found dead Wednesday morning. Authorities did not identify Carson's body until Thursday, when the student's death was announced in a press conference to the UNC and Chapel Hill communities. The 22 year old was the victim of multiple gun shots, at least one of which was to the head. Police believe the shooting took place around 5 a.m. Wednesday in a random act of violence. Carson was found dead at the intersection of Hillcrest Road and Hillcrest Circle later that morning. Chapel Hill police currently have not named any suspects or made any arrests. "It's times like this that test us," UNC Chancellor James Moeser said at a gathering at Polk Place on UNC's campus Thursday afternoon. "Let us be the university that Eve Carson envisioned. Let us show the Carolina Way that she lived, that she talked about." At a press conference Thursday at police headquarters, Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran confirmed that a man found Carson's blue 2005 Toyota Highlander abandoned in downtown Chapel Hill on North Street at 2 p.m. He added that the car is currently being examined for any additional evidence or leads. Curran said police are also soliciting information regarding the whereabouts of Carson's car between the hours of 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, when roommates said they last saw Carson, and 5 a.m. Wednesday, when police found her body within walking distance of her apartment. He added that the car did not appear to be stripped, though it is not yet clear if anything is missing. Police are not aware of anything missing from Carson's apartment, and Curran said the residential area where Carson's body was found is generally low in crime. Police received two consecutive calls reporting gunshots from a neighboring street early Wednesday morning, but Curran noted that no calls came from the street where Carson was found. It is not clear how many shots were fired and police declined to comment on how many wounds Carson's body sustained. A medical examiner has ruled out "foul play," including sexual assault or signs of struggle. When found, Carson was dressed in a T-shirt, sweatpants and Converse sneakers and did not have a wallet or keys on her person. Curran said it was not uncommon for the student body president to make late-night trips to her office on campus, adding that it is unlikely that she was leaving to go out or go running at the time. At this point, investigators said they do not believe there is any connection between Carson's murder and Tuesday's homicide of Auburn University freshman Lauren Burke. In addition to Moeser's afternoon speech at Polk Place, the university held an emotional night-time vigil in the Pit Thursday. "[She was] one of the most incredible human beings I've ever met," one student at the vigil said. "She has an incredible energy about her." Other students recorded their condolences on large message boards posted on campus. "Today the sky is Carolina blue," one person wrote. Other messages alluded to Carson's "inspirational" personality and the impact her death has had on the community. "I never knew her, but I love her," another message read. Students on UNC's campus comforted each other throughout the events and said they hoped to learn from the example Carson set. "Everyone should know what a great person she was," said UNC senior Sarah Schuyler, a friend of Carson's. The Duke community also extended its condolences Thursday in a written statement issued by President Richard Brodhead. "The death of a student is always a grievous loss on a campus," he wrote. "In this case, the loss is particularly senseless and appalling. The hearts of everyone at Duke are with our colleagues at Chapel Hill at this hard time." Currently Duke counselors and Student Affairs officials are in touch with UNC administrators to coordinate any assistance Duke can provide, Vice President for Student Affairs Larry Moneta and Dean of Students Sue Wasiolek said. "Really, sometimes in the face of tragedy, folks do remarkable things," Moneta said. "This is the best time for the students to work together, acknowledging this at the [Duke-UNC men's basketball] game." Duke Student Government President Paul Slattery, a senior, said students will have an opportunity to honor Carson in a moment of silence at Saturday's game against the Tar Heels. In addition, Slattery said he would like to have Duke students sign a banner to send to UNC in memoriam of Carson, though plans for the effort are still tentative. "The world has lost a young woman unwaveringly committed to making her university and the world around her a better place, and UNC's students have lost a friend and leader," Slattery wrote in a letter sent to The Daily Tar Heel Thursday. "We hope that you will find strength in leaning on your community and invite you to find solace in leaning on ours." Carson's parents and brother have been notified and UNC officials have sent a plane to transport them from their home in Athens, Ga., to campus. The pre-medical double major in political science and biology was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and attended UNC on a Morehead scholarship. The student body president also served on UNC's board of trustees and participated in a number of civic engagement efforts both in the Triangle and beyond, travelling to Ecuador, Egypt and Ghana for summer volunteer opportunities. Catherine Butsch, Zachary Tracer and Wenjia Zhang contributed to this story.