A fund has been established to continue the service work and honor the memory of two UNC dental students who were killed earlier this year.

UNC and the Dental Foundation of North Carolina have established a new memorial award honoring the late Deah Barakat and Yusor Abu-Salha. Barakat, his wife Yusor, and her younger sister Razan were all shot and killed in February of this year in the Finley Forest Condos.

Barakat was a student at the UNC School of Dentistry and Abu-Salha was a member of the incoming class to begin this fall and both had a passion for working with those less fortunate across the globe. The university says the couple was planning a trip to Turkey this summer to provide dental care to Syrian refugees.

In their honor, the Deah Barakat and Yusor Abu-Salha Memorial Award will fund service projects for future students, according to Tiffany Brannan Director of Communications for the UNC School of Dentistry.

The Dental Foundation of North Carolina and UNC each committed $30,000 to the fund, and Brannan says many other donations have been made by the public.

You can contribute through this link. In the “Select a Fund” tab, toggle to the “Barakat Memorial Fund.”

Barakat and Yusor Abu-Salha had been married for six weeks at the time of their deaths. The third victim, Abu-Salha’s younger sister, was a sophomore at NC State.

46-year-old Craig Stephen Hicks turned himself into authorities in Chatham County the night of the shooting. He has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

Chapel Hill Police say the initial investigation points to an ongoing parking dispute as the motive for the shooting.

Others point to the murder of the three Muslim students as a hate crime.

Durham District Attorney Roger Echols is seeking the death penalty against Hicks. His next court appearance is tentatively scheduled for early August.

Related Stories
‹
Chapel Hill: Town Council Member Louie Rivers
Chapel Hill Town Council Member Louie Rivers joined 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, August 6, discussing town news and events. He discussed his time on the council so far, including what has been surprising, and what has been most exciting. He shared his priorities for the council for the rest of the […]
The Morning News: Legion Road, ArtsOrange, Jason Johnson, Bill Belichick
In today's news: Chapel Hill provides an update on the future of its 36-acre property on Legion Road, with a pond slated for removal.
Chapel Hill Police Creates Team to Investigate Vehicle Break-Ins; 14 Reported Over Weekend
The department said it responded to 14 vehicle break-ins over the weekend, and 320 so far in 2026. The team will focus on finding patterns.
Chapel Hill: Growth and Development, Carolina North, Legion Pond
Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, July 30, discussing town news and events. She talked about a chamber event on growth and development she had attended earlier that day, which included updates on the North South Bus Rapid Transit project, and more. She also shared updates on UNC's Carolina North Plans, the Legion Road property and pond, and more.
Red Cross Declares Blood Crisis: Here's Where You Can Donate Locally
The American Red Cross is calling for immediate blood donations, declaring a national blood crisis for the second time in history.
Chapel Hill Shares LUMO Draft, Which Could Reshape Development Standards and Housing Types
After nearly a decade since Chapel Hill first launched plans to rewrite its land use management ordinance, or LUMO, a draft has arrived.
The Morning News: Educator Pay, Blood Shortage, Return of Arts Mill
The Hill's Andrew Stuckey fills in for Aaron Keck with the morning news. In today's news: We hear from the president of the North Carolina Association of educators on the shortcomings of teacher pay in the new budget; we hear of a national blood donation shortage; an energy company in Durham faces a hefty fine; the Eno Arts Mill is set to reopen soon; a longtime Carrboro-area bar is getting a new owner and a rebrand, and more.
Chapel Hill: Weather Update, LUMO Draft Availability, Public Info Session
Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, July 23, discussing town news and events. She discussed the recent inclement weather, and discussed preparedness for future inclement weather as we get further into hurricane season. She also talked about the Land Use Management Ordinance re-write, and the opportunities for public feedback on that draft document. She previewed an upcoming public information session, National Night Out, and more.
On Air Today: Rewriting Chapel Hill's Land Use Management Ordinance
The town of Chapel Hill is rewriting its Land Use Management Ordinance (LUMO for short) for the first time since 2003.
Car Crash on East Franklin Street Causes Delays on Wednesday Night; Local Responders on Scene
UPDATE: The Chapel Hill Police Department said the driver was ultimately arrested and charged with driving while impaired, as well as having an open container in the vehicle. The driver, an underaged student at UNC, was issued a $1,000 bond and August court date by the Orange County magistrate on the charges. The crash site […]
›