Chapel Hill shooting suspect wanted to sue over parking

Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Chapel Hill shooting suspect wanted to sue over parking
ABC11 has learned there was not only tension between murder suspect Craig Hicks and his neighbors but also his homeowners' association.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- ABC11 has learned there was not only tension between murder suspect Craig Hicks and his neighbors but also his homeowners' association.

Through her attorney, his wife, Karen Hicks, says about a year ago, Hicks sought legal help to file a lawsuit against the board of directors of his neighborhood because of limited parking.

The board briefly allowed Hicks to hand out flyers with the parking rules to other residents as well as call tow trucks. Eventually that stopped and so did plans for the lawsuit because of money, according to the attorney representing Hicks' wife.

ABC11 contacted the property manager for the Finley Forest community.

"William Douglas works at the direction of the Finley Forest Condo Association Board of Directors," wrote the property manager in an email response. "They do not wish to comment on the matter at this time."

Investigation continues

Authorities won't yet say whether mounting frustration over parking is the only motive behind the murders of three students.

Hicks' social media posts have raised more questions than answers. The self-proclaimed "anti-thiest" criticized all religions. Investigators want to know whether the Islamic faith of UNC dentistry student Deah Barakat, his wife and sister-in-law Yusor and Razan Abu Salha convinced him to commit murder.

Hicks remains at Central Prison in Raleigh for safekeeping instead of the Durham County jail.

Hicks returns to court

Hicks returns to court in March for three counts of first-degree murder and one count of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling.

According to court records, Hicks will face a judge in a child support hearing related to his 10-year-old daughter from a previous marriage that ended in 2004 after just four months.

Another round of search warrants are expected in the case.

Authorities say they'll focus on electronic devices that could shed light on whether the murders were motivated by hate.

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