Chapel Hill Police Knew Nothing Of Craig Hicks’ Feud With Muslim Neighbors Until Slayings

A simmering dispute over parking may have provoked Tuesday’s triple homicide in a North Carolina college town, authorities said. But police in Chapel Hill said they had no inkling of the animosity among neighbors until the violence.

Police have charged Craig Hicks, 46, with three counts of first-degree murder in the shootings of Muslim students Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23; Barakat’s wife, Yusor Abu-Salha, 21; and her sister, Razan Abu-Salha, 19.

“Our investigators are exploring what could have motivated Mr. Hicks to commit such a senseless and tragic act,” Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue 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.”

Hicks was being held without bail in Durham County Jail.

The Huffington Post