BY BETH VELLIQUETTE
bvelliquette@heraldsun.com; 918-1042
CHAPEL HILL -- An SBI agent was in Chapel Hill on Monday investigating the death of UNC student Courtland Benjamin Smith, who died Sunday morning after he was shot to death by an Archdale police officer.
Smith, 21, the president of the UNC chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, was driving south on Interstate 85 south of Greensboro on Sunday morning when he called for police assistance, according to the Archdale Police Department.
He said he was suicidal.
Police intercepted Smith, and "once the vehicle came to a stop, a confrontation ensued," according to the department. Archdale police officer Jeremy Paul Flinchum, 29, shot Smith during the confrontation.
Smith was pronounced dead a short time later at High Point Regional Hospital.
The Archdale Police Department contacted the SBI, which is customary when an officer shoots and kills someone, to conduct an investigation into the shooting death.
An SBI agent, working out of the Chapel Hill Police Department, was attempting to locate and interview members of the fraternity and other people who were close to Smith to try to determine what may have caused Smith to report he was suicidal at 4:54 a.m. on I-85.
Saturday night into early Sunday morning is traditionally a big party night in Chapel Hill as students returning to campus for the fall semester get together before classes begin.
Chapel Hill police report that the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity held a large party Saturday night that spilled over into Sunday morning, and at 3:30 a.m. police were summoned to the fraternity after two residents discovered that someone had entered their rooms and stolen a laptop computer, video gaming systems, video games, an Ipod and a backpack worth a total of $1,845.
Lt. Kevin Gunter, spokesman for the Chapel Hill Police Department, said he didn't know of any connection between the theft of the items and Smith, saying it was probably just a coincidence that the police were called to the fraternity house an hour and a half before Smith was shot in Archdale.
It's somewhat common for people to report items having been stolen from their rooms during large parties, Gunter said.
Members of the fraternity declined to comment about Smith's death Sunday evening.
On Monday, Chancellor Holden Thorp sent a message to students and their parents.
"We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of our student Courtland Smith, a junior from Houston, Texas," Thorp said. "There is nothing worse than losing a young person. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as they grieve and cope with such a great loss."
Thorp added that if anyone wanted to talk to a counselor, they would be in the Upendo Lounge in the Student Academic Services building through 4 p.m. Monday. Students could also receive counseling at the Student Academic Services Building, he said.
