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June 02, 2009
Terrorist Pleads Not Guilty in Soldier's Death ~ Hello Barack Obama Where Are YOU!
Suspect pleads not guilty in soldier's death
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.
A Muslim convert who already was under federal investigation pleaded not guilty Tuesday in what police called a likely "political and religious" attack that killed a young soldier at a military recruiting center.
Abdulhakim Muhammad, 23, of Little Rock, was charged in Monday's death of Pvt. William Long, 23, of Conway outside an Army-Navy Career Center in a west Little Rock shopping center. He pleaded not guilty to a capital murder charge and was ordered held without bail.
A prosecutor said Muhammad admitted shooting Long and another soldier "because of what they had done to Muslims in the past."
An FBI-led joint terrorism task force based in the southern United States has been investigating Muhammad since he returned to the United States from Yemen, a law enforcement official said. The suspect had been arrested and jailed in Yemen at some point for using a Somali passport, the official said. The time of that arrest was not immediately clear.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was not authorized to discuss the investigation.
An FBI spokesman in Little Rock did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Pat Harris said no decision has been made on whether to pursue federal charges against Muhammad. "We're consulting with a lot of people on what, if any, charges can be filed against him," Harris said.
Both Arkansas and federal court systems permit executions for capital crimes.
Long and Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula, 18, of Jacksonville, Ark., had recently completed basic training and had never seen combat. Ezeagwula was hospitalized in stable condition.
Police Chief Stuart Thomas said Muhammad, previously known as Carlos Bledsoe, was a convert to Islam and was not part of any broader scheme to attack the American military.
Interviews with police show he "probably had political and religious motives for the attack," the chief said.
"We believe that it's associated with his disagreement over the military operations," Thomas said.
Police Sgt. Cassandra Davis said Tuesday it wasn't known when Muhammad began planning the attack.
Deputy Prosecutor Scott Duncan said Muhammad told investigators that "he would have killed more soldiers had they been in the parking lot." Long and Ezeagwula were targeted as they stood outside the recruiting center smoking cigarettes.
Muhammad did not speak during the brief hearing before Little Rock District Judge Alice Lightle.
John Rehrauer, spokesman for the Pulaski County jail, said the department was handling Muhammad as it does other high-profile cases.
"He is in some protective custody, in a higher-security unit in a cell by himself," Rehrauer said.
He said he didn't know of any threats against Muhammad and said jailers did not believe he was in any greater danger than previous high-profile people handled at the prison.
The two soldiers had recently completed basic training and had volunteered for a program to recruit others to the military, said Lt. Col. Thomas F. Artis of the Oklahoma City Recruiting Battalion, which oversees the Little Rock office.
"They can show the example: 'Here's where I was, and here is where I am,'" Artis said.
A police report said Muhammad told investigators he observed two soldiers in uniform, drove up to the recruiting center and began shooting.
"He saw them standing there and drove up and shot them," Lt. Terry Hastings told The Associated Press. "That's what he said."
Police arrested Muhammad along a highway moments after the shootings. Police said an assault rifle and other weapons were found in his vehicle.
In addition to the capital murder count, Muhammad is accused of committing 16 counts of a terroristic act. Thomas said most additional counts resulted from the gunfire occurring near other people.
The suspect's father, Melvin Bledsoe of Memphis, Tenn., hung up on a reporter who called about his son's arrest Monday night.
Wild Thing's comment.........
I really feel for these soldiers families. Right out of boot and they get killed on American soil.
"A Muslim convert accused of killing a soldier in a "political and religious" attack on a military recruiting center pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a capital murder charge."
Well of course he is not guilty. A muslim killing infidels in jihad is doing allah's work. He is to be praised as he is following the koran and being a very good muslim. SHEESH!
Deputy Prosecutor Scott Duncan said Muhammad told investigators that "he would have killed more soldiers had they been in the parking lot."
How does he plead "not guilty" with a statement like that?
This should be tried by the Federal Gov. because he killed a U S soldier.
Not only did he kill and wound two US soldiers, but they were soldiers on duty, at their post. Service men and women are murdered from time to time on US soil. But, I can't remember on, in the last 30 years, perhaps since Vietnam, that was murdered while at their duty station.
And odf course not a single remark from the clueless, classless piece of #%&@ in the White House!!!
F U Obama!
Posted by Wild Thing at June 2, 2009 03:28 PM
Comments
The reason Muhammad plead not guilty is because in his eyes, he has committed no sin, and no crime. Remember, in radical Islam if you aren't with them, then you deserve to die (we horrible capitalist infidels!), according to radical Islam rules/code/laws. What worries me is that Muhammad's defense could be that he was acting in accordance with his religion which will bring in the ACLU, and a whole 'nother mess to deal with.
As for who prosecutes, who cares? Arkansas has the death penalty. Which is better upon a conviction? Having him sit in a federal prison for the rest of his life with us paying for it, or having him sit on death row a few years? :)
As for Obama, did you really expect him to say anything? It won't gain him popularity points with those who support him, and it isn't "fun" stuff like throwing a football around the Oval Office, or shooting hoops in the White House drive, or throwing parties for his closest "friends", or spending a night on the town to the tune of $75K, or flying around AF1 terrorizing the citizens of NYC to the tune of $300K, or going on world wide tours and rubbibng shoulders with the world's leaders......... need I say more?
Posted by: Steele at June 2, 2009 07:03 PM
Obama has a few seconds more for an abortionist than he does for an American soldier. Besides, Obama is about to go to the ME to identify with brother muslims, make demands on Israel and do some more apologizing for America.
Posted by: TomR at June 2, 2009 07:55 PM
I've been waiting patiently all day for a White House press release from the Soutpiel, action speaks louder than words. His silence howls at his support for his muzzy brother, we'll be labeled the dissenters and malcontent racists for even broaching the subject. Today the president is stating in so many couched words that he is going to let Iran go nuclear. Hey you ragheaded M'fers, he's at 1600 Pensylvania Avenue!!!
Posted by: Jack at June 2, 2009 08:18 PM
I've been waiting patiently all day for a White House press release from the Soutpiel, action speaks louder than words. His silence howls at his support for his muzzy brother, we'll be labeled the dissenters and malcontent racists for even broaching the subject. Today the president is stating in so many couched words that he is going to let Iran go nuclear. Hey you ragheaded M'fers, he's at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!!!
Posted by: Jack at June 2, 2009 08:19 PM
"And odf course not a single remark from the clueless, classless piece of #%&@ in the White House!!! F U Obama!" Oh baby, the best words I have heard since the November elections! Bless your heart! My thoughts exactly!
Be careful though, the government might be coming for ya!
Ed
Posted by: Eddy at June 2, 2009 09:01 PM
Radical Islam breathes violence to those against it. Scary times we live in.
Posted by: Johanne at June 3, 2009 12:26 AM
Steele, I agree, I am all for the death
penalty. Like you said otherwise we would
be paying to provide for him, grrrrr.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 3, 2009 12:28 AM
Tom, yes his trip beings now, his apology
tour continues. deep sigh of disgust.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 3, 2009 12:30 AM
Jack,heh heh good one.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 3, 2009 12:32 AM
Eddy, I thought of that when I typed it.
whew, I just feel so passionate about our
troops and how they are treated.
Thank you Eddy so much.
Posted by: Wild Thing at June 3, 2009 12:34 AM
A Democrat friend of mine (yes, I have some) said after a Dem worker was killed at a headquarters, "I ought to hang around there with my Kimber and my CC permit and be a guard." "Yes,' I said, you should." Just so we could all go ahead and start doing that now at Recruiting Offices because it is surely going to come to that. Save the taxpayers some money in trying and emprisoning (or more likely, releasing) this scum.
Posted by: horace at June 3, 2009 10:33 AM
