Did Courtland Smith have a gun?

Here’s the N&O’s write-up of Courtland Smith’s 911 call before he was shot by an Archdale police officer along Interstate 85.

Yes, it also occurred to me while writing last night’s post that just because Smith said he had a gun didn’t necessarily mean he had one:

Despite Smith’s claim, it’s unclear whether he actually had a gun. Archdale Police Chief Darrell Gibbs said in an interview Wednesday that he is not aware of any gun being found on the scene, though his officers left all evidence untouched for the SBI investigation and had not searched Smith’s vehicle. Smith’s father, Pharr Smith, said in an interview Monday that his son didn’t own a gun.

Smith’s “polite tone” was also noted by the N&O, and friends say it was characteristic.