After three Muslim students were fatally shot on Tuesday by a self-described “anti-theist,” Muslims were divided about whether the shooting was a hate crime motivated by prejudice against Islam.
The victims were University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students Deah Barakat, his wife, Yusor Abu-Salha, and Yusor’s sister, Razan Abu-Salha. The suspect, 46-year-old Craig Stephen Hicks, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
According to reports, Hicks has openly expressed his anti-theistic views on Facebook. On a page that appears to belong to him, Hicks expressed his distaste for religious beliefs, posting photos and quotes that mock religion. At the same time, he seems to have used the page to argue in support of equality and free speech.
Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue said at a press conference on Wednesday that his department will continue to look into whether or not the shooting was a hate crime. For now, the police are investigating the possibility that the killings were motivated by a longstanding dispute between Hicks and the victims over parking.
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Support for the victims poured in online on Wednesday. All three were described as creative and service-minded, and supporters on social media expressed outrage that young lives brimming with such possibility had been cut short. Mourners used Facebook to plan vigils in the victims’ honor. A global Quran reading was planned in their memory, with participants volunteering from as far away as New Zealand and Kuwait.
A Facebook group that appears to have been set up by the victims’ family members thanked the public for their support.
“Many, many amazing people have condemned this crime from across the world including many random people who seem to want to apologize for the heinous acts of this man,” a post on the page read. “Muslims know all too well that the actions of few may not define the masses. Love shall overcome.”
Michael McLaughlin and Paul Raushenbush contributed reporting.
