CHAPEL HILL -- An estimated 5,500 people gathered in Raleigh Thursday to pay their respects to three Muslim students who were shot and killed in Chapel Hill Tuesday.

Although many people are still coming to terms with what happened, the families of the victims say they have found peace and are not seeking revenge. 

Thursday's celebration began with a procession from the Islamic Association of Raleigh. 

Thousands followed, filling up a large portion of a soccer field on the campus of NC State, where two victims had graduated and another was attending.

Deah Barakat, his wife Yusor Abu-Salha and her sister Razan Abu-Salha were killed Tuesday at their condominium complex near the UNC campus.

Leaders in the Muslim community spoke to the media before the ceremony, recalling fond memories of peace, love  and charity.

"We have to give life Deah, Yusor and Razan. We have to give to the community and the best way to honor their memory is to carry on with their legacy of working with people, loving people," says Nihad Awad, the director of council on American-Islamic Relations.

Deah Barakat, 23, Yusor Mohammed, 21, and Razan Abu-Salah, 19, were born in Raleigh.

Those who knew the three students say they truly were role models in the community, the best examples of humanity. 

The oldest, Deah Barakat, graduated from Raleigh's Broughton High School and then NC State. He was in his second year at UNC's dental school.

He was actively working to raise money to go to Turkey to provide dental care to Syrian refugees.

Just a few weeks ago, he married Yusor Mohammed, the same month she graduated from NC State.

She was scheduled to start the same dental program at UNC in the fall.

And then there was Yusor's younger sister and best friend Razan Abu-Salha. She was a sophomore at NC State, studying architecture and environmental design.

Both young women graduated from Athens Drive High School in Raleigh.

Chapel Hill's Police Chief also spoke at Thursday's ceremony saying it's hard to make sense of the tragic loss of three bright young lives.

"I won't speak much about the investigation today at all, cause this is a time to be together. I will just recommit that we are examining every possible investigative angle to include the potential for hate crime," said Chief Blue.

During the ceremony, those of Muslim faith prayed and offered several moments of silence for the three victims.  

The father of the two female victims says he's found peace and the family is not seeking revenge.

"It's all about protecting all other children in the USA. It's all about making this country where they loved and where they lived and died peaceful for everybody else," said Dr. Mohammad Abu-Salha.

After the ceremony, the three students were buried at the Islamic Association of Raleigh Cemetery in Wendell. 

All three leaving behind inspiration for those in the Triangle community and across the world.