Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, was charged on Wednesday with murdering three members of a Muslim family in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The motivation for the killing is unclear, though police said their preliminary investigation showed that a parking dispute may have been at the root of the matter.
Hicks, however, appears to have spoken openly about his anti-religious views on what is reportedly his Facebook page. The page was frequently updated with quotes, cartoons and links representing these opinions.
On Aug. 11, 2011, Hicks appears to have written:
There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent.
On Jan. 20 of this year, the page was updated with a photo of what the caption calls a "loaded 38 revolver."
In addition to the posts criticizing religion, the page also includes posts advocating equal rights for LGBT people and promoting freedom of speech.
On June 18, 2012, Hicks appears to have commented on a heated Facebook debate, writing: "While I am an outspoken atheist (obviously), I would never take away a persons [sic] right to religion. I would even fight for their rights to have religion if it ever came to that."
According to the Facebook page, Hicks appears to be a fan of Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason and Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion. Dawkins, an outspoken atheist who has been accused of Islamophobia in the past, denounced the shooting on Twitter Wednesday, writing: "How could any decent person NOT condemn the vile murder of three young US Muslims in Chapel Hill?"
Police identified the victims as Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, Barakat's wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19. News of the tragic shooting quickly spread on social media, giving rise to the Twitter hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter, which circulated Tuesday evening and into the following day.
"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," Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told WNCN.
Though many believe the victims were killed because of their religion, others have cautioned against jumping to conclusions, arguing that inflammatory language might only make things worse. Abdullah Antepli, director of Muslim affairs at nearby Duke University, posted a statement on Facebook:
However, Dr. Mohammad Abu-Salha, the father of two of the victims, was adamant that the shooting was a hate crime, telling reporters that one of his daughters who lived near Hicks had previously said she had “a hateful neighbor.”
“Honest to God, she said, ‘He hates us for what we are and how we look,’” Abu-Salha told The News & Observer, a North Carolina newspaper.
The Associate Press reported Wednesday morning that the shooting may have been the result of a parking dispute and that Hicks was cooperating with the investigation.
According to a Facebook page set up for the victims, a vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Peace and Justice Plaza in Chapel Hill.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.