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The man accused of killing three Muslim students in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, will face the death penalty at trial in an attack that some have argued should be treated as a hate crime, according to the local district attorney.

Craig Hicks, 46, is charged with killing Deah Barakat, 23; his wife, Yusor Abu-Salha, 21; and her sister, Razan Abu-Salha, 19, at an apartment complex where they all lived on Feb. 10. Police alleged Hicks killed the students over a parking dispute at the complex, though some relatives of the victims have said they believe the attack was a hate crime.

In court documents filed last week, Durham County District Attorney Roger Echols said he would pursue a capital punishment case against Hicks, NBC’s Raleigh station reported.

The FBI has opened an inquiry into the deaths of the students to determine whether any federal laws were violated.

IN-DEPTH

— Miranda Leitsinger