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.