Chapel Hill shooting: 'Media silence' condemned after Craig Hicks allegedly kills three Muslim students

Craig Stephen Hicks allegedly turned himself to police after killing three Muslim students. Chapel Hill police department/handout

Dozens of Twitter users have expressed their outrage at what they perceive as "mainstream media silence" over the killing of three Muslim students at a university in North Carolina.

It is believed that the three youths - identified as Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21 and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19 - were killed by Craig Stephen Hicks, 46, who turned himself into police.

The triple homicide occurred at around 5pm local time. However, major US media outlets including CNN and LA Times, as well as news channels in other countries, only reported the murder several hours after it had occurred.

How many HOURS has it been since the #chapelhill shooting & ABSOLUTELY NO MENTION ON ANY NEWS NETWORKS? BRIAN WILLIAMS IS STILL FRONT PAGE.
— The Rockin' Moroccan (@moroccanbeardo) February 11, 2015

If that shooting was committed by a Muslim individual, it could've been a Worldwide BREAKING NEWS 24/7 #chapelhill pic.twitter.com/34zHtcm5CP
— Nadia Ali (@nadiaalie) February 11, 2015

The #ChapelHillShooting in #NorthCarolina is totally unacceptable. Such incidents should be condemned and given appropriate media coverage.
— Mufti Ismail Menk (@muftimenk) February 11, 2015

No Breaking News here .. Where is the World #Media ...? #ChapelHillShooting #ChapelHill pic.twitter.com/3xUwSyS1oI
— Said Shoaib سعيدشعيب (@saidshouib) February 11, 2015

If news coverage is a barometer - #MuslimsLivesMatter only when they're villains. Not victims. #ChapelHillShooting
— Khaled Bey (@KhaledBeydoun) February 11, 2015

Hicks was arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, according to a report on the News and Observer. He is being held in Durham County Jail.

Allthough the motive behind the attack is not yet clear, a Facebook page bearing Hicks' name, accompanied by atheist slogans, has triggered speculation that the attack is religion-motivated.