Eve Carson
CHAPEL HILL -- As UNC students mourned the loss of their student body president with flowers and memorials, the Board of Trustees stepped up efforts to catch Eve Carson’s killer, offering a $25,000 reward for information in the case.
Carson, 22, of Athens, Ga., was found shot to death about a mile from her home on Wednesday. Police say she was shot several times, but the shot that killed her was from a handgun and struck her in the right temple.
A witness who called 911 said she heard three gunshots and three screams.
Watch the full Chapel Hill police news conference where the new $25,000 reward is detailed.
News 14 Carolina's Cassie Safrit talked with students as they made makeshift memorials in honor of their friend.
Listen to both 911 calls from the neighborhood where Carson was murdered, as well as the 911 call made upon the discovery of Carson's vehicle.
Reporter Shelvia Dancey has the latest on the murder investigation, including key parts from the 911 calls.
News 14 Carolina's Deborah Tuff has additional coverage on the level of safety at UNC's campus.
"And you said you heard a female scream?" the dispatch officer asked the woman.”
"Three times, yeah," the woman answered. "...and it’s quiet now."
A second witness who heard the attack said she heard four gunshots.
Carson was a student member of the Board of Trustees, which likely contributed to their involvement. They knew Carson personally and at this time, Chapel Hill police have no suspects and few leads. They believe the case is isolated and was probably a random act of violence, which makes it harder to solve.
At a 12:30 p.m. news conference, Chapel Hill police Chief Brian Curran said the important thing now is to find out if anyone happened to see Carson’s vehicle around the time she was murdered. Carson drove a blue 2005 Toyota Highlander with Georgia plates, and police ask that you let them know if you saw it between the hours of 1:30 a.m. Wednesday and mid-day Thursday.
If you have any information, you are urged to call CrimeStoppers at (919) 942-7515.
“You really have to pick up any forensics that you can get and do all kinds of neighborhood canvassing, checking with other local law enforcement agencies for anything similar,” Curran explained. “You kind of have to cast a wide net when it comes to [random violence] in order to start narrowing stuff down.”
Carson said police have no evidence to believe it was a targeted crime. The initial examination of Carson’s body did not reveal a sexual
Carson's SUV
assault either, and 911 calls indicate that Carson was likely shot where her body was found.
Carson's vehicle was found in Chapel Hill, although it was actually closer to her home than to where her body was found. (View the map.)
“It didn’t appear that the car was stripped of anything like stereo, that kind of stuff,” Curran added. The keys to the car were also not located.
Students continue to mourn at makeshift memorials
The mourning continued on Friday as the dreary weather matched the mood on campus. One day before the beloved basketball team was set to face rival Duke, that story could not be further from student’s minds. The Daily Tar Heel, the student newspaper, dedicated its Friday edition to Carson, but admitted that “words are not enough.”
Not only was Carson the head of student government and involved in many campus and community organizations, those who came to the candlelight vigil and those who wrote on her makeshift memorial say she was a friend to all.
"Thank you, Eve, for being such a wonderful mentor and friend. You're so beautiful inside and out, and I miss you with all my heart, and I love you," UNC freshman Natalie Sutton said, writing her sentiments on the memorial behind the Campus Y.
Sutton was just one of many who turned out despite the rain to leave a final message to Carson. Inspirational, funny, and a joy to be around, the messages that dotted Carson’s memorial mirrored the personality of a young woman so many on campus came to know and love.
Sutton met Carson on finalist weekend for the Morehead-Cain scholarship, a prestigious scholarship also held by Carson.
"She was really one of the reasons why I wanted to come to Carolina because she was just so enthusiastic and so encouraging, and I've never met someone so sweet," Sutton said. “You would see her on campus, but she would stop and make a point to talk to you even if that made her 10 minutes late to a meeting.”
"Everybody seems affected by it,” added academic advisor Christy Walker. “I just wanted to read what people said and reflect on what she meant to the university.”
Signs of grief abounded on campus. Flags flew at half-staff, flowers adorned memorials, and three pink carnations now lie where investigators say they found Carson's body. It’s obvious that if you met Carson once, you never forgot her.
"Even the time I got to spend with her really affected me and really made me want to be a better person and give back to the community," Sutton explained.
As students left for spring break Friday, school officials and those who knew her best say they hope students take pause and remember to do what they can to make the world a better place, live their lives in memory of Carson, in honor of those less fortunate… the Carolina Way… the Eve Carson Way.
"It's going to be really hard without her here, but I know her presence is definitely still felt," Sutton said.
UNC Chapel Hill officials said the university will have a memorial service for Carson after spring break.
Dispatch: “Orange County 911.”
Caller: (unintelligible) There may have been three shots. It sounded like a young woman.”
Dispatch: “OK, repeat the address to make sure that I have it correct.”
Caller: “Hillcrest Circle and I actually couldn’t tell if it was on the circle or behind the Circle on Marilyn Lane.”
Dispatch: “OK and you said you heard gunshots?”
Caller: “Three gunshots.”
Dispatch: “How long ago did this happen?
Caller: “Thirty-five seconds.”
Dispatch: “And you said you heard a female scream?”
Caller: “Three times, yeah… and it’s quiet now.”
Map of Carson murder: