This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/three-killed-in-shooting-near-university-of-north-carolina/2015/02/11/18b74166-ce8d-431e-b223-2b91c1f75b1f_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Three Muslims killed in shooting near UNC; police, family argue over motive | Three Muslims killed in shooting near UNC; police, family argue over motive |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| A Chapel Hill man has been charged with shooting and killing three people near the campus of the University of North Carolina on Tuesday night. | A Chapel Hill man has been charged with shooting and killing three people near the campus of the University of North Carolina on Tuesday night. |
| This rare spasm of violence for the region sparked alarm and drew international attention due to the fact that all three victims were Muslim, though police said that initial indications suggested the shooting stemmed from an altercation involving parking. | This rare spasm of violence for the region sparked alarm and drew international attention due to the fact that all three victims were Muslim, though police said that initial indications suggested the shooting stemmed from an altercation involving parking. |
| The three victims were identified by police and school officials in the early hours of Wednesday morning. They were all young adults with ties to universities in the region. Deah Barakat, 23, was a second-year student at the University of North Carolina’s School of Dentistry; his wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, was set to enroll there in the fall. The third victim was her 19-year-old sister, Razan, a student at nearby North Carolina State University in Raleigh. | The three victims were identified by police and school officials in the early hours of Wednesday morning. They were all young adults with ties to universities in the region. Deah Barakat, 23, was a second-year student at the University of North Carolina’s School of Dentistry; his wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, was set to enroll there in the fall. The third victim was her 19-year-old sister, Razan, a student at nearby North Carolina State University in Raleigh. |
| “This is a tremendous loss to the Carolina and N.C. State campuses, and my thoughts and prayers are with the families, fellow students, faculty and friends of these three very promising students,” Carol L. Folt, chancellor of UNC, wrote in a message to students Wednesday. | “This is a tremendous loss to the Carolina and N.C. State campuses, and my thoughts and prayers are with the families, fellow students, faculty and friends of these three very promising students,” Carol L. Folt, chancellor of UNC, wrote in a message to students Wednesday. |
| Police said that they had arrested Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, and charged him with the shootings. Hicks turned himself in “without incident” to the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office in nearby Pittsboro after the shooting, Chatham County Sgt. Kevin Carey said Wednesday. | Police said that they had arrested Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, and charged him with the shootings. Hicks turned himself in “without incident” to the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office in nearby Pittsboro after the shooting, Chatham County Sgt. Kevin Carey said Wednesday. |
| The shooting deaths of three Muslims prompted concerns that the violence was motivated by their religion, and leading Muslim civil rights advocates called for police to address that possible explanation. But the Chapel Hill Police Department said Wednesday that it appeared, at least initially, that the shooting centered on a parking argument. | The shooting deaths of three Muslims prompted concerns that the violence was motivated by their religion, and leading Muslim civil rights advocates called for police to address that possible explanation. But the Chapel Hill Police Department said Wednesday that it appeared, at least initially, that the shooting centered on a parking argument. |
| “Our preliminary investigation indicates that the crime was motivated by an ongoing neighbor dispute over parking,” the department said in a statement. “Hicks is cooperating with investigators and more information may be released at a later time.” | “Our preliminary investigation indicates that the crime was motivated by an ongoing neighbor dispute over parking,” the department said in a statement. “Hicks is cooperating with investigators and more information may be released at a later time.” |
| The father of the two women killed disputed the idea that it was simply an argument involving parking, saying Wednesday that one of his daughters had previously told her family about Hicks having a problem with the way she looked. | The father of the two women killed disputed the idea that it was simply an argument involving parking, saying Wednesday that one of his daughters had previously told her family about Hicks having a problem with the way she looked. |
| “It was execution style, a bullet in every head,” Mohammad Abu-Salha, a psychiatrist in nearby Clayton, N.C., told the News and Observer in Raleigh. “This was not a dispute over a parking space; this was a hate crime. This man had picked on my daughter and her husband a couple of times before, and he talked with them with his gun in his belt. And they were uncomfortable with him, but they did not know he would go this far.” | “It was execution style, a bullet in every head,” Mohammad Abu-Salha, a psychiatrist in nearby Clayton, N.C., told the News and Observer in Raleigh. “This was not a dispute over a parking space; this was a hate crime. This man had picked on my daughter and her husband a couple of times before, and he talked with them with his gun in his belt. And they were uncomfortable with him, but they did not know he would go this far.” |
| Hicks’s wife, Karen, held a news conference on Wednesday afternoon to insist that she believed the shooting was about “long-standing parking disputes” her husband had with his neighbors, rather than anything to do with religion. | |
| As word of the shooting spread, so did unease at other possible reasons. The hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter became a common refrain on Twitter as users expressed belief and sorrow at the possibility that the crime was religiously motivated as well as frustrations with what they saw as the media’s failure to initially or thoroughly report what had happened. | As word of the shooting spread, so did unease at other possible reasons. The hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter became a common refrain on Twitter as users expressed belief and sorrow at the possibility that the crime was religiously motivated as well as frustrations with what they saw as the media’s failure to initially or thoroughly report what had happened. |
| “Our investigators are exploring what could have motivated Mr. Hicks to commit such a senseless and tragic act,” Chris Blue, the Chapel Hill police chief, said in a statement. “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.” | “Our investigators are exploring what could have motivated Mr. Hicks to commit such a senseless and tragic act,” Chris Blue, the Chapel Hill police chief, said in a statement. “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.” |
| Residents of the complex where the shooting occurred described Finley Forest as a quiet area, a stretch of tall pine trees surrounding small buildings that are mostly home to graduate students. | Residents of the complex where the shooting occurred described Finley Forest as a quiet area, a stretch of tall pine trees surrounding small buildings that are mostly home to graduate students. |
| “You always see people out walking their dogs and everybody’s always friendly,” said Jack Swanson, 25, a software developer, who lives across the parking lot from the building where the shooting took place. | “You always see people out walking their dogs and everybody’s always friendly,” said Jack Swanson, 25, a software developer, who lives across the parking lot from the building where the shooting took place. |
| People who lived there said Wednesday that there was plenty of parking and said they could not imagine an argument over parking spaces. On Wednesday, nearly a day after the shooting, a scrap of police tape hung on one of the buildings, while a few television news trucks and reporters lingered in the neighborhood. | People who lived there said Wednesday that there was plenty of parking and said they could not imagine an argument over parking spaces. On Wednesday, nearly a day after the shooting, a scrap of police tape hung on one of the buildings, while a few television news trucks and reporters lingered in the neighborhood. |
| Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt said police were working “to determine whether hate was a motivating factor” in the shooting. | Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt said police were working “to determine whether hate was a motivating factor” in the shooting. |
| “All we know for certain at this time is that it was a senseless and tragic act surrounding a longstanding dispute…We do not know whether anti-Muslim bias played a role in this crime, but I do recognize the fear that members of our community may feel,” he said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “Chapel Hill is a place for everyone, a place where Muslim lives matter.” | “All we know for certain at this time is that it was a senseless and tragic act surrounding a longstanding dispute…We do not know whether anti-Muslim bias played a role in this crime, but I do recognize the fear that members of our community may feel,” he said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “Chapel Hill is a place for everyone, a place where Muslim lives matter.” |
| Hicks made a brief court appearance on Wednesday morning, saying he understood the charges, according to the Associated Press. His probable cause hearing was set for March 4, and he is being held without bond. | Hicks made a brief court appearance on Wednesday morning, saying he understood the charges, according to the Associated Press. His probable cause hearing was set for March 4, and he is being held without bond. |
| “Such an act of violence goes against the very fiber of our community and society,” said Folt, the UNC chancellor. “It also creates a sense of vulnerability for all of us, especially members of the Muslim community. I am in touch with the Muslim community and students and will continue to be in conversation with them.” | “Such an act of violence goes against the very fiber of our community and society,” said Folt, the UNC chancellor. “It also creates a sense of vulnerability for all of us, especially members of the Muslim community. I am in touch with the Muslim community and students and will continue to be in conversation with them.” |
| The Council on American Islamic Relations called for police to address the speculation about Hicks’s motive, pointing in part to the religious attire of the Mohammad sisters and noting that in photographs circulating online, both were wearing Islamic headscarves. | The Council on American Islamic Relations called for police to address the speculation about Hicks’s motive, pointing in part to the religious attire of the Mohammad sisters and noting that in photographs circulating online, both were wearing Islamic headscarves. |
| “Based on the brutal nature of this crime, the past anti-religion statements of the alleged perpetrator, the religious attire of two of the victims, and the rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in American society, we urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to quickly address speculation of a possible bias motive in this case,” Nihad Awad, the group’s executive director, said in a statement. | “Based on the brutal nature of this crime, the past anti-religion statements of the alleged perpetrator, the religious attire of two of the victims, and the rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in American society, we urge state and federal law enforcement authorities to quickly address speculation of a possible bias motive in this case,” Nihad Awad, the group’s executive director, said in a statement. |
| Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for CAIR, said Wednesday morning, before police pointed to parking, that he had heard some “unsubstantiated reports” from community members about previous times the victims and Hicks had argued about a parking spot. | Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for CAIR, said Wednesday morning, before police pointed to parking, that he had heard some “unsubstantiated reports” from community members about previous times the victims and Hicks had argued about a parking spot. |
| Other voices sought to tamp down speculation. These “devastating murders may or may not be a hate crime,” Abdullah Antepli, director of Muslim affairs at Duke University, posted on Facebook. He also said Hicks had a “history of conflict with the victims over parking space and other issues” and urged caution until more information is known. | Other voices sought to tamp down speculation. These “devastating murders may or may not be a hate crime,” Abdullah Antepli, director of Muslim affairs at Duke University, posted on Facebook. He also said Hicks had a “history of conflict with the victims over parking space and other issues” and urged caution until more information is known. |
| Still, the concerns people expressed spoke to a general fear that recent news involving the Islamic State — including the deaths of a Jordanian pilot and an American hostage – could lead to some sort of reprisal, said Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center. | |
| “I think it’s perfectly natural to guess that this is anti-Islamic,” Potok said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “Not just because the three victims are Muslim, but because there has been so much terrible news in recent days about extremist Muslims.” | “I think it’s perfectly natural to guess that this is anti-Islamic,” Potok said in a telephone interview Wednesday. “Not just because the three victims are Muslim, but because there has been so much terrible news in recent days about extremist Muslims.” |
| Potok said the SPLC had not found an increase in hate speech in the Chapel Hill area. | Potok said the SPLC had not found an increase in hate speech in the Chapel Hill area. |
| The larger region had recently been the nexus of a debate involving the Muslim call to prayer, which Duke University had planned to broadcast from a chapel tower before reversing course. | The larger region had recently been the nexus of a debate involving the Muslim call to prayer, which Duke University had planned to broadcast from a chapel tower before reversing course. |
| Police arrived at the home on Summerwalk Circle in Chapel Hill, not far from the UNC campus, on Tuesday shortly after 5 p.m. in response to reports of gunshots. All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene. | Police arrived at the home on Summerwalk Circle in Chapel Hill, not far from the UNC campus, on Tuesday shortly after 5 p.m. in response to reports of gunshots. All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene. |
| The burst of fatal violence was unusual for the region. In 2013, there were just two murders in all of Durham and Orange counties, which surround the spot where the shooting occurred, according to the FBI. | The burst of fatal violence was unusual for the region. In 2013, there were just two murders in all of Durham and Orange counties, which surround the spot where the shooting occurred, according to the FBI. |
| “I just heard gunshots,” a woman who called 911 on Tuesday told the dispatcher in a recording released Wednesday. She said she heard between five and 10 gunshots, adding: “I heard kids screaming.” | “I just heard gunshots,” a woman who called 911 on Tuesday told the dispatcher in a recording released Wednesday. She said she heard between five and 10 gunshots, adding: “I heard kids screaming.” |
| It sounded like a car backfiring “maybe seven or eight times,” said Ray Antonelli, 25, a medical student at UNC. He was visiting his girlfriend, who lives in the complex, and had just woken up from a nap when he heard the sounds. | It sounded like a car backfiring “maybe seven or eight times,” said Ray Antonelli, 25, a medical student at UNC. He was visiting his girlfriend, who lives in the complex, and had just woken up from a nap when he heard the sounds. |
| This #ChapelHillShooting has cast a shadow over this beautiful city of mine. RIP Deah, Yusor and Razan pic.twitter.com/vM7c9GYaRi — Adeyemi Adenola MD (@dradenolawhyte) February 11, 2015 | This #ChapelHillShooting has cast a shadow over this beautiful city of mine. RIP Deah, Yusor and Razan pic.twitter.com/vM7c9GYaRi — Adeyemi Adenola MD (@dradenolawhyte) February 11, 2015 |
| This #ChapelHillShooting has cast a shadow over this beautiful city of mine. RIP Deah, Yusor and Razan pic.twitter.com/vM7c9GYaRi | This #ChapelHillShooting has cast a shadow over this beautiful city of mine. RIP Deah, Yusor and Razan pic.twitter.com/vM7c9GYaRi |
| — Adeyemi Adenola MD (@dradenolawhyte) February 11, 2015 | — Adeyemi Adenola MD (@dradenolawhyte) February 11, 2015 |
| Not long after, he said police had with rifles had swarmed the parking lot. Sirens blared through a neighborhood residents described as normally very calm. “We’ve definitely never felt unsafe here,” said Mona Xiao, 24, Antonelli’s boyfriend, also a UNC medical student. | Not long after, he said police had with rifles had swarmed the parking lot. Sirens blared through a neighborhood residents described as normally very calm. “We’ve definitely never felt unsafe here,” said Mona Xiao, 24, Antonelli’s boyfriend, also a UNC medical student. |
| Details also began to emerge about the three victims, painting a picture of young lives abruptly cut short. Mohammad and Barakat were married in late December, a little more than six weeks ago, she had posted on Facebook. On Monday, she changed her profile picture to show her dancing with her father at the wedding. | Details also began to emerge about the three victims, painting a picture of young lives abruptly cut short. Mohammad and Barakat were married in late December, a little more than six weeks ago, she had posted on Facebook. On Monday, she changed her profile picture to show her dancing with her father at the wedding. |
| “They kept to themselves,” said Kristen Boling, 20, a senior at UNC who lives in the same complex. She rode the bus with them on occasion to UNC’s south campus. | “They kept to themselves,” said Kristen Boling, 20, a senior at UNC who lives in the same complex. She rode the bus with them on occasion to UNC’s south campus. |
| Barakat had recently posted about providing free dental supplies and food to dozens of homeless people in Durham. His family was from Syria, and he had traveled to Turkey last year to help treat Syrian refugees there, a friend told the Associated Press. He was also active on social media; a tweet he posted last month has been picked up and re-tweeted hundreds of times in the last few hours. | Barakat had recently posted about providing free dental supplies and food to dozens of homeless people in Durham. His family was from Syria, and he had traveled to Turkey last year to help treat Syrian refugees there, a friend told the Associated Press. He was also active on social media; a tweet he posted last month has been picked up and re-tweeted hundreds of times in the last few hours. |
| It's so freaking sad to hear people saying we should "kill Jews" or "Kill Palestinians". As if that's going to solve anything SMH — Deah Barakat (@arabprodigy30) January 28, 2015 | It's so freaking sad to hear people saying we should "kill Jews" or "Kill Palestinians". As if that's going to solve anything SMH — Deah Barakat (@arabprodigy30) January 28, 2015 |
| It's so freaking sad to hear people saying we should "kill Jews" or "Kill Palestinians". As if that's going to solve anything SMH | It's so freaking sad to hear people saying we should "kill Jews" or "Kill Palestinians". As if that's going to solve anything SMH |
| — Deah Barakat (@arabprodigy30) January 28, 2015 | — Deah Barakat (@arabprodigy30) January 28, 2015 |
| A vigil for the three victims was planned for Wednesday evening. | A vigil for the three victims was planned for Wednesday evening. |
| In a Facebook post, Barakat’s brother Farris Barakat mourned the three deaths. | In a Facebook post, Barakat’s brother Farris Barakat mourned the three deaths. |
| “I haven’t even begun to fully comprehend what has happened. But I know for sure those three together have done so much we are all proud of. No reason to stop being proud now,” he wrote. “God is great. God is greater.” | “I haven’t even begun to fully comprehend what has happened. But I know for sure those three together have done so much we are all proud of. No reason to stop being proud now,” he wrote. “God is great. God is greater.” |
| He added: “We live as Muslims to die as Muslims. May Allah enter them to the highest of paradise.” | He added: “We live as Muslims to die as Muslims. May Allah enter them to the highest of paradise.” |
| My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those senselessly murdered in Chapel Hill last night #MuslimLivesMatter — Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) February 11, 2015 | My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those senselessly murdered in Chapel Hill last night #MuslimLivesMatter — Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) February 11, 2015 |
| My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those senselessly murdered in Chapel Hill last night #MuslimLivesMatter | My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of those senselessly murdered in Chapel Hill last night #MuslimLivesMatter |
| — Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) February 11, 2015 | — Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) February 11, 2015 |
| Farris Barakat also created a Facebook group, “Our Three Winners,” where he posted images of the three victims and announcements about funeral arrangements. | Farris Barakat also created a Facebook group, “Our Three Winners,” where he posted images of the three victims and announcements about funeral arrangements. |
| Attention also turned to the social media profile of Hicks, the alleged shooter, to see what clues could be gleaned from his online presence. He had frequently shared links about atheism on what appeared to be his Facebook page. One such post reads: “People say nothing can solve the Middle East problem, not mediation, not arms, not financial aid. I say there is something. Atheism.” | Attention also turned to the social media profile of Hicks, the alleged shooter, to see what clues could be gleaned from his online presence. He had frequently shared links about atheism on what appeared to be his Facebook page. One such post reads: “People say nothing can solve the Middle East problem, not mediation, not arms, not financial aid. I say there is something. Atheism.” |
| Another post shared three weeks before the shooting depicted a loaded revolver, tucked in its holster, alongside five extra rounds. | Another post shared three weeks before the shooting depicted a loaded revolver, tucked in its holster, alongside five extra rounds. |
| Sullivan reported from Chapel Hill, N.C. Berman and Kaplan reported from Washington. | Sullivan reported from Chapel Hill, N.C. Berman and Kaplan reported from Washington. |
| [This post has been updated with new information.] | [This post has been updated with new information.] |
| RELATED: Chapel Hill killings shine light on particular tensions between Islam and atheism | RELATED: Chapel Hill killings shine light on particular tensions between Islam and atheism |