FBI Assisting in Investigation of North Carolina Shooting, Opens Parallel Inquiry
Published at
Photo by Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images(CHAPEL HILL, N.C.) — The FBI says it is continuing to assist in the investigation of a fatal shooting on the campus of the University of North Carolina’s Chapel Hill campus that left three people dead, while also opening their own inquiry into the incident.
“The FBI is continuing to provide assistance to the Chapel Hill Police Department to process evidence related to a triple homicide investigation,” the agency said. “The FBI has also opened a parallel preliminary inquiry to determine whether or not any federal laws were violated related to the case.”
All three victims were Muslim, and two of the three — Deah Barakat, 23, and Yusor Mohammad, 21 — were married. The third victim, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, was the sister of Yusor Mohammad. The suspected shooter, Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
Police had previous said they were investigating whether the shooting was a hate crime.
A vigil was held at the school’s campus on Wednesday night, and another was held on Thursday night in Washington, D.C.
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.