Three people are dead and one is in custody after a shooting Tuesday afternoon in Chapel Hill.

A press conference was held Wednesday afternoon, with Durham District Attorney Roger Echols, U.S. Attorney Ripley Rand, Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue, and Abdullah Antepli, director of Muslim affairs at Duke University. Listen to the full press conference below:

 

The suspect’s wife, Karen Hicks, and attorneys, Rob Maitland and Michele English of Maitland Law Firm in Chapel Hill, also held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon:

 

Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt gave his first interview since the shooting to WCHL:

 

Suzanne Barakat, brother of Deah Barakat, issued a statement through a press conference on Wednesday afternoon:

 

Chapel Hill Police have confirmed that a shooting took place shortly after 5:00 pm at the Finley Forest Condos on Summerwalk Circle near the Friday Center. Officers arrived to find three gunshot victims, all three of whom were pronounced dead at the scene. The three victims are 23-year-old Deah Shaddy Barakat, of Chapel Hill, 21-year-old Yusor Mohammad, of Chapel Hill, and 19-year-old Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, of Raleigh. A vigil is planned for Wednesday night at 6:30 at the Pit.

Chapel Hill Police say the “preliminary investigation  indicates that the crime was motivated by an ongoing neighbor dispute over parking.  Hicks is cooperating with investigators and more information may be released at a later time.”

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

According to United Muslim Relief, Barakat and Mohammad were founding members of the Triangle chapter serving UNC, Duke, and NC State. Abu-Salha was currently serving as an officer with the group, and she organized monthly efforts to help feed the homeless in Raleigh.

46-year-old Craig Stephen Hicks has been arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

Hicks

Hicks was being held in the Durham County Jail but has since been moved to Central Prison. He is being held without bond. He appeared before a judge Wednesday morning and was told he would be assigned a public defender. He’s scheduled for a probable cause hearing on March 4.

An Alert-Carolina message identified one victim as dental student at UNC, his wife as a student who was set to begin her dental studies in the fall, and the third as a student at NC State. The full statement is below:

The Chapel Hill Police Department has released additional information this morning about Tuesday’s shooting near campus that claimed the lives of three people. It is with deep sadness that we share with you the news that the victims included Deah Barakat, a second-year student in the School of Dentistry, and his wife, Yusor, who had planned to begin her dental studies here in the fall. Her sister, Razan, a student at N.C. State University, was also killed. Chancellor Folt will issue a campus message later this morning when we have more details.

Hicks posted messages on facebook declaring his atheist views, but there is no confirmed connection that religion played a part in these murders. He also posted a photo of a gun on the social media site on January 20:

hicks gun screenshot

Meanwhile, friends of the victims have set up a facebook page to honor their lives.

Yusor dancing at her weekding. Photo via Facebook

Yusor dancing at her wedding. Photo via Facebook

Barakat was working with youcaring.com to raise money for dental relief in Syria.

 

 Congressman David Price released the following statement:

I join our community in shock and sorrow at the shooting of three students in Chapel Hill last night, and in the desire to reach out to the families, friends, and classmates of the victims.

This appalling act of violence has shaken our community’s sense of peace and reminded us once again that we still face serious barriers to mutual acceptance. We must redouble our efforts to bridge the gaps of intolerance and hatred that divide our society.

 Statement from Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt:

Our community has been rocked by a horrible crime with the shootings of three young people. On behalf of the Chapel Hill community, I ask that you join with me in remembering the parents, family and friends of Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad, and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, in your thoughts and prayers. I offer them my heartfelt condolences.

The assailant is in custody after turning himself in to police. I have full confidence this crime is being thoroughly investigated. The Chapel Hill Police Department is using all available resources to determine whether hate was a motivating factor. All we know for certain at this time is that it was a senseless and tragic act surrounding a longstanding dispute.

I share strong feelings of outrage and shock with my fellow citizens and University students — as well as concerned people everywhere. We do not know whether anti-Muslim bias played a role in this crime, but I do recognize the fear that members of our community may feel. Chapel Hill is a place for everyone, a place where Muslim lives matter.

These deaths represent an incomprehensible loss. I believe that we can find strength by acknowledging the fear and outrage that this act instills, coming together to ask difficult questions, and lifting up all people in our community who are hurting.

Statement from the Dean of UNC School of Denstistry:
Dear Carolina School of Dentistry Students, Faculty and Staff,
 
We are heartbroken and grief-stricken by last night’s devastating news, the incredible loss to our school and to the entire Carolina Community. One of the shooting victims killed at an off-campus condominium complex has been identified as second-year dental student Deah Barakat. His wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, and his wife’s sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha were also killed in the shooting. Yusor was recently admitted as a member of the incoming DDS Class of 2019. Razan was a sophomore at N.C. State University.
 
Deah was especially close to those of us at the School of Dentistry. A member of DDS 2017, Deah was known for his kindness, service-driven heart, love of basketball and his sincerity. A native of Raleigh, Deah earned his bachelor’s in business administration from N.C. State in 2013 prior to being admitted into our dental program. Deah was involved in many aspects of our dental school – including research with the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, serving as a co-president of the new Dental Student Ambassadors group and leading the charge for a dental mission trip to Turkey. He was well loved and respected within these walls, and we will feel his loss deeply.
 
Deah and Yusor were newlyweds, just recently married in December. Yusor, as many of you know, worked with the North Carolina Missions of Mercy clinics – like many of you did and continue to do – prior to her admission to dental school. We were all looking forward to getting to know her as a member of the UNC dental family beginning in April, and we grieve her loss as well.
 
This is an incredible tragedy for our school, the dental community and the University. Today, everyone here is grieving. Our deepest sympathy goes out to their families and friends.
 
We encourage students to call Counseling and Psychological Services (919) 966-3658 for additional support; counseling resources are available for students overnight by contacting (919) 966-2281. Faculty and staff may contact our Employee Assistance Program at (877) 314-5841.
 
This is a terrible shock, and all of us at the school are grieving together.  If there is anything we can do to assist you, please don’t hesitate and let us know.
 
Sincerely,
 
Jane A. Weintraub
Dean and Alumni Distinguished Professor

 

Statement from members of the clergy in Chapel Hill:
As leaders of faith communities in Chapel Hill, we deplore the senseless killing of Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad, and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, and we share in the profound grief of their families. An attack on any of God’s children, our sisters and brothers, is an attack on us all. We renew our pledge to continue the vital work of fostering mutual understanding and respect that cross all lines of difference.
 
Mark Coulter, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Mark Davidson, Church of Reconciliation
Robert E. Dunham, University Presbyterian Church
Jill Edens and Richard Edens, United Church of Chapel Hill
Carl King, University United Methodist Church
Stephen Elkins-Williams, Chapel of the Cross
Will Rose, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
H. Mitchell Simpson, University Baptist Church
Mark Acuff, The Gathering Church
Rabbi Jen Feldman, Kehillah Synagogue
Thomas Nixon, St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
 
Statement from UNC Chancellor Carol Folt:
It is with profound sadness that I write to you this morning about the tragic loss of three young people from our community. As most of you likely have heard, last night there was a shooting at a condominium complex near campus that took their lives all too soon. Sadly, Deah Barakat, a student in the School of Dentistry, and his wife, Yusor Abu-Salha, who had planned to begin her dental studies at Carolina next fall, were killed, along with Yusor’s sister, Razan Abu-Salha, an undergraduate at North Carolina State University.This is a tremendous loss to the Carolina and N.C. State campuses, and my thoughts and prayers are with the families, fellow students, faculty and friends of these three very promising students. Deah and Yusor, who both were from Raleigh and graduated recently from N.C. State, had just been married and were preparing for careers that had so much potential to help others. Razan, a sophomore from Raleigh, was majoring in environmental design in architecture at N.C. State.The Chapel Hill Police Department have charged an individual, and the University is cooperating fully with police in the investigation. Police have reassured the community that there is no ongoing threat in connection with this tragedy. In addition, Chapel Hill police said their preliminary investigation indicates that the crime was motivated by an ongoing neighbor dispute over parking, but continues to investigate and exhaust every lead to determine if this was hate-motivated. Please know that our highest priority is the safety and security of students, faculty, staff and visitors on Carolina’s campus and in the surrounding community. I would like to thank the Chapel Hill Police Department and first responders for their hard work on this investigation.Such an act of violence goes against the very fiber of our community and society. It also creates a sense of vulnerability for all of us, especially members of the Muslim community. I am in touch with the Muslim community and students and will continue to be in conversation with them. While the Chapel Hill police continue to gather facts, Carolina has and will remain focused on supporting all members of our community. Plans are underway for a community vigil this evening and details will be shared this afternoon.Dean Jane Weintraub has gathered the students, faculty and staff in the School of Dentistry so they can come together during this tragedy. The University is offering on-site support and counseling for them. The greater Carolina community also has resources to help us with our grief. We encourage students to call Counseling and Psychological Services (919-966-3658), and faculty and staff to contact our Employee Assistance Program (877-314-5841), if you would like support. My gratitude goes to all of you for your understanding and kindness as our community draws strength from one another at this very difficult time.Sincerely,Carol L. Folt, Chancellor