Gunman charged

WINSTON-SALEM. — A gunman who had posted anti-religious messages on social media was charged with killing three Muslim students near the University of North Carolina in what police said yesterday was an ongoing dispute over parking. Craig Stephen Hicks (46) of Chapel Hill, was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, the Chapel Hill Police Department said in a statement. He was being held at Durham County Jail. Muslim activists demanded that authorities investigate Hicks for possible hate crimes in the killings late on Tuesday of the three students who were all involved in humanitarian aid programmes.

“Our preliminary investigation indicates that the crime was motivated by an on-going neighbour dispute over parking,” police said in a statement.

“Hicks is co-operating with investigators and more information may be released at a later time.” On Facebook, Hicks’ profile picture reads “Atheists for Equality” and he frequently posted quotes critical of religion. On January 20 he posted a photo of a .38-caliber revolver that he said was loaded and belonged to him. “Yes, that is 1 pound 5.1 ounces for my loaded 38 revolver, its holster, and five extra rounds in a speedloader,” the post said. The victims in the shooting are Deah Shaddy Barakat (23); his wife Yusor Mohammad (21), and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha (19).

A spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) told Reuters the three were Muslim.

“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,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. — Reuters.