Chapel Hill police do not suspect foul play in death of Harris Pharr

UPDATE, 10:56 a.m., June 23: Chapel Hill police say they do not suspect foul play in the death of Harris Pharr.

Lt. Josh Mecimore, a spokesman for the Chapel Hill Police Department, said they cannot determine a cause of death until the autopsy and toxicology reports are done, but he said the police department is still investigating.

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Harris Pharr, a UNC senior from Raleigh, died on Thursday. He was 21. 

The Office of the Dean of Students confirmed his death in an email statement on Friday. Pharr was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity. He graduated from Needham B. Broughton High School in Raleigh and was studying biomedical engineering at UNC. 

"Today the UNC fraternity community is mourning the loss of Harris Pharr (Chi Phi '15), who tragically passed away yesterday evening," said a tweet from UNC's Interfraternity Council. 

Kenan Drum, president of the IFC, provided a statement.

"The Interfraternity council was saddened to hear about the loss of one of our senior members, Harris Granger Pharr, Chi Phi class of 2015," Drum said.

"At this time, out of respect for his family, we decline to comment on any circumstances surrounding his tragic death. Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the Pharr family and the brothers of the Alpha-Alpha Chapter of Chi Phi Fraternity. They mourn the loss of a son and brother."

Jeff Powell, a senior at UNC, said he met Pharr in their first year of college. Powell said he and Pharr shared a major and were in many classes together.  

"Harris was a good kid, always willing to help, and he got along with everyone," Powell said in a Facebook message. "This semester, he always helped keep people in a good mood during the countless, frustrating hours we were in the electronics lab."

Lt. Allison Finch, the watch commander for the Chapel Hill Police Department, said at this time, the police department could not comment on Pharr's death. 

Contact the desk editor at university@dailytarheel.com.