2 charged in murder of UNC student leader

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (AP) — Two suspects were charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the killing of the University of North Carolina's student body president.

Demario James Atwater, 21, of Durham, was arrested and ordered held without bond. Police said they are still searching for the second suspect, 17-year-old Lawrence Alvin Lovett Jr.

Chapel Hill Police Chief Brian Curran declined to say whether Lovett is the subject of a police standoff under way in Durham. City Councilman Eugene Brown told WRAL-TV that police in the standoff were trying to arrest the second suspect.

Police in Durham refused to comment, referring all questions about the standoff to police in Chapel Hill.

Shackled at the ankle and waist and with a public defender at his side, Atwater whispered "yes" when asked whether he understood the charge against him. His next court appearance was scheduled for March 24.

Carson was a prestigious Morehead-Cain scholar at North Carolina, where she was remembered by thousands who gathered Thursday at two campus memorial services. Hundreds of mourners filled the First United Methodist Church in Athens on Sunday at a memorial service in her hometown.

The university said Wednesday a third memorial service will be held next week at the campus basketball arena.