Military recruiter killed in Ark. shooting

Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad — a 24-year-old Little Rock resident formerly known as Carlos Bledsoe — faces a first-degree murder charge and 15 counts of engaging in a terrorist act, Little Rock Police Chief Stuart Thomas said. The terrorist counts stem from the shots fired at an occupied building.

The soldier who was killed was identified as Pvt. William Long, 24, of Conway, and the wounded soldier is Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula, 18, of Jacksonville, Thomas said.

Ezeagwula is in stable condition and expected to recover, the police chief said.

Although military officials initially believed that the shooting was a random act, Thomas said police think the shooter acted alone “with the specific purpose of targeting military personnel.”

A U.S. soldier was killed and a second was injured in what Arkansas police are calling a drive-by shooting at a recruiting center in Little Rock.

Around 11:19 a.m. E/T on Monday, Little Rock police responding to a 911 call at the Army/Navy Career Center, found two soldiers, who were part of a recruiting program called “hometown recruiting assistance,” shot.

The two victims were part of a basic training volunteer program where recruiters have soldiers tell their stories to potential recruits. The volunteers are either visiting soldiers or ones who are based back in their home region.

It is believed that the suspect, who is now in police custody, drove a black SUV and fired on the soldiers as they were standing outside the center. They had not been deployed.

The men were rushed to a local hospital where one died.

Authorities said that an assault rifle was found in the suspect’s vehicle.