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 GREENSBORO — An investigative summary that accompanied the autopsy of a UNC-Chapel Hill student fatally shot by Archdale police was amended Thursday to indicate the student didn’t tell friends he was suicidal before the shooting.

The changes made in a medical examiner’s report say that Courtland Smith, 21, only expressed suicidal thoughts to a 911 dispatcher while driving down the interstate immediately before the shooting Aug. 23. The amendments also delete references to alcoholism and depression in Smith’s medical history.

The initial report released last week said Smith talked of suicidal thoughts to friends on the day of his death and previously.

“There is no evidence that prior to (the incident) he had expressed suicidal thoughts or intent,” the new report says.

Dr. Gordon Arnold, who signed the report, did not return a message seeking comment on the changes. It is unclear whether Arnold made the changes.

Sharon Artis, a spokeswoman for the N.C. Medical Examiner’s Office, told The Associated Press she could not say why the changes were made. The chief medical examiner was unavailable for comment.

Smith, a junior majoring in biology, was president of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity at UNC. University officials have said there was alcohol at a party hosted by the chapter the night before Smith’s death.

Fraternity members said they were dumbfounded last week when the report indicated Smith had told friends of suicidal thoughts before his death.

The fraternity said that Smith’s father — Pharr Smith — tried to contact Arnold, but was referred to the N.C. Chief Medical Examiner’s Office.

“That office acknowledged that statements made by local Medical Examiners in these preliminary reports often turn out to be inaccurate but are nevertheless part of public record,” the fraternity’s statement read.

Chris Rice, an alumni member of the chapter, said that despite being upset with the initial report, the fraternity did not make an effort to have the document revised. Pharr Smith could not be reached by phone at his home in Texas.

The fraternity released a statement Thursday saying it was pleased by the changes, saying the earlier report “did not accurately reflect the behavior of the man we knew prior to the early morning of his tragic death.”

Smith was shot and killed about 5 a.m. Aug. 23 near Exit 108 off Interstate 85 in Archdale. Police pulled Smith over because he called 911 saying he wanted to kill himself, in addition to saying he was intoxicated, speeding and armed with a pistol.

The SBI is investigating.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com