Wife: Slayings of 3 in Chapel Hill motivated by parking spat

By MICHAEL BIESECKER
Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL, NC (AP) — A woman whose husband is accused of shooting three people at a North Carolina condominium complex says the man was motivated by a parking dispute, not the victims’ faith.

A Muslim advocacy organization had asked authorities to address speculation – much of it on social media – about possible religious bias in Tuesday’s shooting of the three Muslims.

Karen Hicks said Wednesday that the shootings had nothing to do with religion or the victims’ faith.

A former roommate of one of the victims, Deah Shaddy Barakat, says Hicks often complained that the men parked in spaces designated for visitors. That roommate, Imad Ahmad, says Hicks came to their door with a gun on his hip and told them not to park there.

An attorney for Karen Hicks says Craig Hicks had a concealed weapons permit.

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