David Shannon autopsy: Alcohol level at .22

An autopsy report released Monday for David Shannon shows the UNC freshman died from blunt trauma to the head, neck and torso and had a blood alcohol concentration of .22 at the time of his death.

Shannon, a pledge in the Chi Phi fraternity, sustained the injuries after falling 30 feet from a piece of machinery at the Ready Mixed Concrete Plant in Carrboro in the early hours of Oct. 27, the report states.

The autopsy and toxicology reports were released Monday after being certified, but the autopsy was completed on Oct. 29 and the toxicology report was completed on Nov. 2.

Kirsti Clifford, a spokeswoman for N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, would not comment on why there was a delay in the autopsy certification.

Clifford said the department does not have any additional comments beyond the release.

The Carrboro Police Department is the investigating agency for the case.

The autopsy results haven’t changed the direction of the investigation, said Capt. Chris Atack, the spokesman for the department.

The findings are consistent with the evidence gathered at the scene, he said.

From the beginning police have said that alcohol played a role in Shannon’s death.

At a blood alcohol concentration of .20, a person can feel disoriented and might need help standing or walking, according to data from the University of Missouri-Rolla Center for Personal and Professional Development.

The study estimated that someone Shannon’s size would have to consume 11 drinks within one hour to reach a blood alcohol level of .22.

At that level, a person might not realize they’re hurt because they likely won’t feel pain, the research states. And if a person is aware he is injured, he likely won’t do anything to address the injuries.

Police are still trying to figure out what led Shannon to the concrete plant that night. He was last seen at a party on McCauley Street on Oct. 26.

In his most recent update sent to the town manager last month, Carrboro Police Chief Walter Horton said the department had not ruled out hazing in Shannon’s death.

“Depending on what information is developed, we may be able to charge N.C. General Statute 14-35 Hazing, which is a class 2 misdemeanor,” Horton said in an email to Town Manager David Andrews.

“Dependent on other developments, we may have additional charges if appropriate.”

Atack said police believe someone knows what happened the night Shannon died.

In its update last month, the department said investigators have reached out to members of Shannon’s fraternity and the UNC community but haven’t received any information in return.

“We feel very confident that there are people at UNC that can shed additional light,” Atack said Monday. “We’re asking people to overcome the fear and the peer pressure and share information that’s relevant.”

Members of Shannon’s family encouraged anyone with information about the night he died to speak with Carrboro police.

“We certainly want anybody with any information about David to come forward,” said his father, Hugh Shannon. “We do want to know.”

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