Click Here

Duke to Pay Tribute to Slain Student

Abhijit Mahato

Duke University planned to pay tribute Friday to a graduate student who was gunned down in his apartment last week.

Abhijit Mahato lived in Apartment C-2 at 1600 Anderson St. The 29-year-old was found dead on Jan. 18. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. in the Fitzpatrick Center.

Durham police believe Stephen Oates, 19, committed the crime and that the motive was robbery. During Oates' first court appearance Thursday, the assistant district attorney said Oates took Mahato's cellphone, wallet and $200.

Police said they believe Oates held up three other people at gunpoint that same day.

Oates was among a group of young men police arrested Tuesday after a high-speed chase that started in Durham and ended in Raleigh. Police tracked the car because it matched the description of a vehicle used in a previous armed robbery.

Investigators later linked Oates to Mahato's murder.

The memorial service for Mahato comes two days after campus officials and police held a meeting to discuss a rash of recent crime, including armed robberies.

Mahato's friends and family described a gentle, intelligent, thoughtful poet and scientist whose qualities they said they will sorely miss.

Mahato was studying for a doctoral degree at Duke's Pratt School of Engineering. He was in his second year.



7 Comments


Golo

Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.

You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.

View Comments View Comments

Photo Spotlight
0
1
2
3
4
5
[+] more photos | submit your photos
Report It
Send us your news photos, videos, tips and story ideas.
Submit Videos Submit Photos Submit Reports
  1. 2009christmasparade
    Bands, marchers in holiday parade

    Choose your group to watch their performance in the 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade.

  2. 2009christmasparade26
    Web only: Complete 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade

    Watch the parade in its entirety from the comfort of your computer any time.

  3. taxes
    Search for missing IRS refunds

    The Internal Revenue Service released the names this week of more than 100,000 taxpayers who have not received their 2009 income tax refund.

  4. County Unemployment Rates
    North Carolina unemployment rates

    View an interactive map with county unemployment numbers.

  5. Drought Map
    A year of N.C. Drought Maps

    View a time lapse animation of drought conditions during the last year.

Click Here