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UM Awards Astronomy Degree To Slain Student

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) -- The University of Maryland is awarding a degree to a student who was killed at his off-campus home last week.

University spokesman Neil Tickner says Justin DeSha-Overcash's astronomy degree will be presented privately to his family and displayed at a memorial ceremony on Thursday evening.

Tickner says DeSha-Overcash, who was a senior astronomy and physics major set to graduate in the spring, had already fulfilled the requirements for a Bachelors of Science in astronomy.

Prince George's County Police say DeSha-Overcash was shot during an attempted robbery at his home, where they found enough marijuana to indicate intent to distribute, a scale and packaging materials.

His death was one of 13 slayings in the county in the first 11 days of the year.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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