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Funerals for Chapel Hill shooting victims Thousands mourn Chapel Hill shooting victims
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of mourners are gathering for the funerals of three Muslim students killed in North Carolina. Thousands of mourners have gathered for the funeral of three Muslim students killed in North Carolina.
Deah Shaddy Barakat, wife Yusor Mohammad and her sister Razan, were shot dead at their home in Chapel Hill. The father of two of the victims addressed the crowd and said they had been victims of a hate crime.
Their neighbour Craig Stephen Hicks gave himself up to police and has been arrested on three counts of murder. His daughters and son-in-law were shot dead at their home in Chapel Hill, and their neighbour charged with murder.
Police say initial indications suggest there was a parking space dispute but they are investigating whether the victims' religion played a part. Police say initial indications suggest there was a parking space dispute but they are investigating whether Craig Hicks was motivated by religious hate.
Mr Hicks' Facebook profile included a photo that read "Atheists for Equality". He also frequently posted quotes critical of religion. Hicks gave himself up to police and has been charged with killing Deah Shaddy Barakat, wife Yusor Mohammad and her sister Razan.
Relatives of the victims believe it was a hate crime. After a private ceremony with family members, the funeral was held at the athletic fields of North Carolina State University where all three had been a student. Police estimated 5,500 people were in attendance.
Mr Barakat's brother Farris told the BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan that Hicks had threatened his brother and his family with a gun. At the service's end, about a dozen people carried each to hearses, which headed to an Islamic cemetery outside Raleigh.
At the funerals - Tara McKelvey, BBC News At the scene - Tara McKelvey, BBC News
Classmates of the dead stand outside a soccer stadium in Raleigh on Thursday, hugging each other and trying not to cry. It's a bright, breezy afternoon, and they're waiting for the funerals to begin. Pallbearers chant as they carry a silver coffin towards the stadium. The funerals are over, and people are now heading to the burial site.
They make a wrong turn on the sidewalk and are guided back to a gate through a chain-link fence. They carry the coffin through the entrance. A moment later more pallbearers arrive, carrying another casket - this one is white and has plastic sheets hanging down the sides. "It was the biggest funeral I've ever been to," said Nisrin Shabin. "They kept coming, it was magical."
"It's a beautiful sight," says a man in a red beret, talking on a mobile phone, as he looks out at the hundreds of people who have gathered in the stadium. I can't even tell you how many are here." Ghada Salameh, says she attended the couple's wedding in December - and now their funeral. "I guess it is a hate crime."
A train whistles in the distance, and more people walk through the gate. Radmehr, a 15-year-old student whose family is originally from Iran, said: "I think it was probably against our religion."
His father, Samad says: "I'm really not too religious but I felt bad for them. They were good people."
Neighbours stunned by triple murderNeighbours stunned by triple murder
In pictures: Chapel Hill vigilsIn pictures: Chapel Hill vigils
#BBCTrending: Why activists believe it was a hate crime#BBCTrending: Why activists believe it was a hate crime
Mr Hicks' Facebook profile included a photo that read "Atheists for Equality". He also frequently posted quotes critical of religion.
Relatives of the victims believe it was a hate crime.
Mr Barakat's brother Farris told the BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan that Hicks had threatened his brother and his family with a gun.
The father of the two sisters killed said Mr Hicks had killed them "execution style".The father of the two sisters killed said Mr Hicks had killed them "execution style".
But Mr Hicks' wife Karen said the incident had nothing to do with religion and her husband treated everyone equally.But Mr Hicks' wife Karen said the incident had nothing to do with religion and her husband treated everyone equally.
A candlelit vigil was held at the University of North Carolina on Wednesday night.A candlelit vigil was held at the University of North Carolina on Wednesday night.
Barakat was a dental student at the university and his wife was planning to enrol in the school in the next term.Barakat was a dental student at the university and his wife was planning to enrol in the school in the next term.
Muslim and civil rights organisations are organising more vigils across the country for Thursday evening. The funerals are taking place in the neighbouring town of Raleigh.Muslim and civil rights organisations are organising more vigils across the country for Thursday evening. The funerals are taking place in the neighbouring town of Raleigh.
Mr Hicks apparently had a history of conflicts with neighbours over parking spaces.Mr Hicks apparently had a history of conflicts with neighbours over parking spaces.
Michael Nam told the BBC that Mr Hicks once confronted him with a gun holstered on his hip.Michael Nam told the BBC that Mr Hicks once confronted him with a gun holstered on his hip.
The murders have resonated both within US and around the world, especially on social media. The hashtag #ChapelHillShooting has been used hundreds of thousands of times.The murders have resonated both within US and around the world, especially on social media. The hashtag #ChapelHillShooting has been used hundreds of thousands of times.
There has been criticism of a perceived lack of coverage in the mainstream media with the hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter mentioned almost 100,000 times in the day following the shooting.There has been criticism of a perceived lack of coverage in the mainstream media with the hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter mentioned almost 100,000 times in the day following the shooting.
Jane Weintraub, the dean of the University of North Carolina dental school, called Barakat "a bright light" who would be remembered for his "incredible heart for service" and "his leadership".Jane Weintraub, the dean of the University of North Carolina dental school, called Barakat "a bright light" who would be remembered for his "incredible heart for service" and "his leadership".
"I don't know what I'm going to do on Saturday mornings when it's time for family breakfast," Barakat's brother, Farris, told the candlelight vigil on Wednesday."I don't know what I'm going to do on Saturday mornings when it's time for family breakfast," Barakat's brother, Farris, told the candlelight vigil on Wednesday.
"We lost three great citizens of the world and of this country, but I think they've inspired thousands.""We lost three great citizens of the world and of this country, but I think they've inspired thousands."