Hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter trends as man, 46, charged with murder after killing at housing complex near University of North Carolina campus

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

Investigators are still searching for a motive behind an attack in North Carolina that left three Muslim students dead, as speculation mounted that the killings might be linked to their religion.

Craig Stephen Hicks, who turned himself in to police, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting deaths which took place on Tuesday night in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.



Craig Stephen Hicks, 46. Photograph: AP

The victims are Deah Barakat, 23; his wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21; and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19. Barakat was a second-year dental student at the University of North Carolina, where his wife was planning to begin her dental studies in the fall. Her sister was a student at North Carolina State University. Police responded to reports of gunshots at 5.11pm on Tuesday. All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

Parents of the victims arrived at the scene desperately pleading for information about the shooting. Police officers were unable to confirm the identities of the victims for several hours.

Police said on Wednesday they believed the crime stemmed from an ongoing dispute over parking. Hicks and the victims were neighbors.

“Our investigators are exploring what could have motivated Mr Hicks to commit such a senseless and tragic act,” said chief Chris Blue of the Chapel Hill police department.

“We understand the concerns about the possibility that this was hate-motivated and we will exhaust every lead to determine if that is the case. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these young people who lost their lives so needlessly.”

Family of North Carolina shooting victims denounce killings as 'hate crime' Read more

Police said Hicks is cooperating with investigators.

Hicks appeared in court Wednesday morning wearing an orange jumpsuit and shackles. He spoke very little, only to confirm some information and say he understood the charges facing him, according to local news reports. District judge Maria Morey set the next hearing on 4 March. Hicks will be held without bond.

A spokeswoman for the Durham county district attorney’s office said the prosecutor has not made any decisions about whether or not he will pursue the death penalty as the investigation is still ongoing.

Shafi Khan, founder of the Alexandria, Virginia-based group United Muslim Relief, to which all three victims belonged, said the organization was broken-hearted at the news.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Deah Barakat, bottom centre, with friends. Photograph: Supplied.

“These guys were the best of the best,” Khan said, his voice shaking. “There’s just no other way to put it. You can’t hope for better people than that.”



He said Barakat recently traveled to Palestine to provide dental care to special needs children. “It’s a segment that not a lot of people see,” Khan said.

Khan said Razan was an officer in the organization, leading monthly feedings for the homeless.



“Most people are remembering them for their legacy, what they left behind,” Khan said.

Donations to a website Barakat had set up to provide dental care to Syrian refugees in Turkey had more than doubled by early Wednesday afternoon.

While remembering the victims, Khan said there was already palpable concern among Muslim communities in the American south and elsewhere about the role the victims’ religion may have played in their killing.

“There is a fear in the community that it could be something hate-based,” Khan said. “I’ve been telling people to not make assumptions and to wait for the police.”

Overnight news of the three deaths gave gave life to the hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter – a social media rallying cry reminiscent of the #BlackLivesMatter movement following multiple killings across the US in the last six months.

Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) We cannot live in our country and not feel safe. This is the experience of many communities. #BlackLivesMatter #MuslimLivesMatter

MohaNNad أبو مازن (@TheMoeDee) Remember them like this. Deah and Yusor had names, dreams and families. #MuslimLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/G6YF06gXyO

Hicks had apparently said on Facebook that he was an atheist. A post from before the shooting has been widely shared on social media, citing the outspoken opponent of religion Richard Dawkins:

Yukio Strachan (@boldandworthy) FB post from Craig Stephen Hicks, charged w/ murder of 3 Muslim students. #ChapelHillShooting pic.twitter.com/QygrQOvamf pic.twitter.com/DRiXC60Kd5

Dawkins, in a subsequent tweet of his own, wrote: “How could any decent person NOT condemn the vile murder of three young US Muslims in Chapel Hill?”

Barakat and Abu-Salha married on 27 December. The newlyweds attended North Carolina State University as undergraduates.

Based on Barakat’s social media pages, he enjoyed playing basketball and watching football. Razan, the younger sister, posted on her accounts that she had just started a new semester at NCSU, where she was studying architecture and environmental design. Her Tumblr page showed a passion for art, fashion and football. A Vine video shows her driving with friends.

Razan Abu-Salha (@realmoneyrazan) wen u frenz w da fob https://t.co/wtKwug5pRi

A Facebook page titled “Our Three Winners” was created to commemorate the three victims on Wednesday. Friends are sharing photos, videos and thoughts of the newlyweds and the sisters.

UNC chancellor Carol Folt is expected to make a statement on Wednesday. In a statement, the university said: “We are sensitive to the impact an incident of this nature has on campus and in the community. We understand you want to know the facts as quickly as possible. At the same time, we must respect the job our Chapel Hill police have as they investigate this crime.”

A vigil will be held for the victims at 7pm on Wednesday night at the Peace and Justice plaza in Chapel Hill. Another vigil is being planned by students at UNC-Chapel Hill’s sister school in Charlotte. The funeral proceedings are tentatively set to take place on Thursday at the Islamic Association of Raleigh, those close to the family said on the Facebook page.