2nd suspect arrested in NC student slaying
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (AP) - March 13, 2008 A warrant filed Thursday charges 17-year-old Lawrence Alvin
Lovette Jr. with first-degree murder in the death of Abhijit
Mahato.
Mahato, 29, originally of Tatangar, India, was a doctoral
student in computational mechanics. He was found shot to death
inside his apartment a few blocks south of Duke's campus in
January.
Lovette and Demario James Atwater, 21, were charged Wednesday
with first-degree murder in the death of Eve Carson. The
22-year-old was found last week lying on a street about a mile from
the North Carolina campus in nearby Chapel Hill.
The biology and political science major from Athens, Ga., had
been shot several times, including once in the right temple.
Authorities also charged Lovette with robbery with a dangerous
weapon in Mahato's killing. Separately, he was charged Thursday
with misdemeanor larceny, communicating threats, contributing to
the delinquency of a juvenile and common law robbery.
In the days after Carson's death, police focused their
investigation on 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 with Atwater in the
back seat. Police also believe Atwater was the suspect shown trying
to use Carson's ATM card inside a convenience store. Authorities
have not said if money was successfully removed from Carson's
account.