FBI Opens Inquiry Into Murder of Muslim Students

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CHAPEL HILL, NC — The FBI is opening an inquiry into the murders of three Muslim students at UNC Chapel Hill.  Their funeral and prayer service had to be moved from a mosque to an athletic field Thursday because more than 5,000 people showed up.

Craig Hicks is accused of shooting Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor and her sister Razan on Tuesday.  Police say an ongoing dispute over parking might be to blame.  The victims’ friends and family insist it’s a hate crime.

“Anti-Muslim rhetoric in our society may have encouraged some to commit violence against American Muslims.  So we encourage law enforcement to investigate this case as a possible hate crime,” said Azhar Azeez, President of the Islamic Society of North America.

The suspect is a self-proclaimed “gun-toting” atheist.  He has a history on social media of criticizing both the Muslim and Christian faiths.