There's not much yet information public on
the killing of three young Muslims in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Tuesday, so expect to see a lot of speculation, much of which won't ultimately pan out. But we do know that the victims were a husband and wife, Deah Barakat and Yusor Abu-Salha, both in their early 20s, and Mohammad's sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, and that:
The Chapel Hill police said that Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, had been charged with three counts of first-degree murder. He is being held at the Durham County Jail.
Hicks is reportedly a militant atheist. Unsurprisingly, many suspect that the victims' religion was a factor in the killing, with the Council on American Islamic Relations issuing 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,” the national executive director, Nihad Awad, said. “Our heartfelt condolences go to the families and loved ones of the victims and to the local community.”
Barakat was a dental student at the University of North Carolina and Yusor Abu-Salha planned to become a dental student in the fall. Razan Abu-Salha was a student at North Carolina State University.