Deaths have ‘hate crime written all over’: father

Family, friends and thousands of other mourners gathered Thursday at funeral and prayer services for three Muslims gunned down in Chapel Hill, as police investigated whether religious hatred played any role in the shooting which authorities said was sparked by a dispute over parking spaces.

Because of the sizable crowd, the service was moved to athletic fields owned by North Carolina State University, where two victims had graduated and one was a student.

Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, his wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19, were killed Tuesday at the newlywed couple’s home near the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill campus. Mr. Barakat attended graduate school there; his wife had planned to join him.

Those gathered Thursday grappled with questions about whether the violence was connected to the victims’ Muslim faith.

The father of the two slain women says hatred of Muslims might explain why the dispute erupted into death. Officials have said they’re still investigating any possibilities the crime was hate-motivated.

Mohammad Yousif AbuSalha called on mourners to “celebrate” their memory and said the deaths had “hate crime written all over” them.

“We are definitely certain that our daughters were targeted for their religion,” the father added. “This is a moment of truth. I have just viewed their bodies.”

Charged with three counts of first-degree murder is Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, who has described himself as a “gun toting” atheist.