chapel hill, north carolina — The North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Agency found violations at two Chapel Hill bars in connection with a Jan. 21 crash that killed University of North Carolina sophomore Molly Rotunda in Chapel Hill. did. WRAL Investigates received the report ALE submitted to her ABC committee through a public records request.
The Might as Well and Still Life bars on Franklin Street were both serving alcohol to minors prior to the incident, according to a report dated March 2024.
The ABC committee will now decide on sanctions for these bars, including suspension, written warnings, and fines. The two bars did not respond to WRAL's requests for comment. According to the ALE report, authorities have notified Might as Well and Still Life permit holders that they are filing violation reports with the ABC Commission.It says still life Permit “He immediately became hostile and started screaming,” the complaint states, adding that “ALE has a pattern of fabricating violations against his business.”
WRAL has reported extensively on the wreck, and 10 people, including two, have been charged as a result of the investigation into the wreck and the events of that night. NCCU students and three UNC football players. Most of the charges are misdemeanors related to underage drinking.
The group spent $910 on tequila, which was paid for by UNC football player Travis Shaw, according to the report.
Once the bar closed at 2 a.m., the group went to the nearby Wallace parking lot and dispersed into different cars, according to the report.
Rice was driving one of the cars. The ALE report states that using surveillance video, Rice was seen firing at least five shots at Still Life between 12:36 a.m. and 1:41 a.m. The report states that another UNC football player, Malachi hamrickwas also in Rice's car.
WRAL reports that officials say racing may have been a factor, and police say speeds reached more than 120 mph.
According to documents, the car was heading to the next location. blue in Farrington A housing complex where many groups lived.
With rice hamrick I was interviewed by an investigator at Kenan What they saw was communicated to the Football Center and a document describes what they said.
”hamrick He said they were driving side by side on the highway. … hamrick The right lane was about to end, so Rice said he slowed down so he could pass. hamrick He said he then saw the car continue straight ahead and veer off the road…once. hamrick He said he called 911 and told Rice he needed to turn around and help. ”
Rice told deputies she saw Brewer's car go airborne, and “it looked like she was trying to steer the car correctly, but the car was already airborne.”
Rice told investigators that he and hamrick Thanks to the smoke, they were able to find the woman's car.
“Mr. Rice stated that Mr. Rotunda was sitting in the back seat when they arrived at the wreck, and that they pulled Mr. Rotunda from the vehicle… Mr. Rice stated that he left the scene after seeing the ambulance pick up Mr. Rotunda.” , again said, “It was too much.'' Rice said he had to pull. hamrick away from the scene. ”
According to the report, when Rice was interviewed by investigators, he recalled receiving a text message from the Rotunda asking for a ride, but that he did not see the message. “Rice appeared upset,” investigators wrote. “And I may have even felt some guilt over Rotunda's death for missing this text message. I sat next to Rice and tried to comfort him for a moment.”
“He told investigators he didn't think anyone was intoxicated and if he had thought anyone was intoxicated, he would have stopped,” the report said.
Investigators interviewed Rice. Kenan Football Center on Jan. 24, according to reports. Rice said he has known Brewer and Rotunda since college, noting that the two “went to my brother-in-law's high school.”
DPS said Travis Shaw, who was charged with aiding or abetting the consumption of alcohol by a minor for allegedly purchasing the tequila, will be fined $500, court costs and serve 25 hours of community service. . He is also charged with underage drinking.
When asked about the charges against the players on March 18, head football coach Mack Brown said, “We have three players who have committed misdemeanors and we are currently going through the legal process.'' We'll have to wait for the legal process to run its course and then decide what to do.” Obviously there will be consequences for disciplinary action within our program. ”
