On February 10, 2015, Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha were murdered in their home in Finley Forest Condominiums on Summerwalk Circle in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. They were allegedly murdered by Craig Hicks, a 46 year old man, over what Hicks describes as a parking dispute.

Hicks is being charged with 3 counts of 1st degree murder. Prosecutors are saying that Hicks might get the death penalty if found guilty. Ola Albayati, 7th grader at Unis Middle School, states that she thinks Hicks should get the death penalty for killing 3 innocent people. She also says the quote “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

Many muslims are deeply upset over these 3 murders. There have been rallies and meetings regarding the emotions of this crime. Fouad Bazzi, 6th grader at Unis Middle School, says “I feel really bad that this had to happen over a parking dispute.” “No one should be killed over something so stupid.”

There are people who also believe that Hicks shouldn’t get the death penalty. 6th grader, Hussein Hamade, states “I think he should just get life in prison.” There are many people who oppose the killing of convicted criminals.

Hussein Hamade, 6th Grader

Hicks’ ex-wife, Cynthia Hurley, said that before they divorced about 17 years ago, his favorite movie was “Falling Down,” the 1993 Michael Douglas film about a divorced unemployed engineer who goes on a shooting rampage. His ex- Wife also said that she doesn’t think her ex- husband did this because of the religion of the victims.

Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, described himself as a “gun-toting” atheist. Neighbors said that he frequently seemed angry and confrontational. So the real question is was this a hate crime or another killing over road rage?

Comment your feeling.

Mariam Amin

Middle School Journalist