3 shot to death near University of N.Carolina; no motive yet

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- Three people were shot to death at a quiet condominium complex near the University of North Carolina, and the suspect was scheduled for a court appearance Wednesday - though police had not yet released a motive or given details of the crime.

Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, was arrested and has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, Chapel Hill police told local news outlets. He is being held at the Durham County Jail and was expected to make a first court appearance Wednesday morning.

About 5:15 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a report of gunshots. They found three people who were pronounced dead at the scene. They were identified as Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, of Chapel Hill; Yusor Mohammad, 21, of Chapel Hill; and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19, of Raleigh.

The neighborhood where they were found consists mostly of rental apartments and condominiums.

"It's a very quiet community," resident Bethany Boring told WRAL-TV. "It's a lot of graduate and professional students. You know, professional families."

Police have not released a motive and said the investigation is continuing. A police spokesman did not immediately return telephone messages Wednesday morning.

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