Dead soldier's family sought quiet in Arkansas

By The Associated Press

CONWAY — The father of a soldier killed outside a suburban Little Rock recruiting center said Wednesday the family had moved to Arkansas for peace and quiet after long military careers.

Pvt. William Long elected to enter the military of his own accord rather than acting as an obedient son expected to carry on a family legacy, Daris Long told The Associated Press. Daris Long served in the Marines, his wife was in the Navy. The slain solder's brother is in the Army as well, and a grandfather and great-grandfather also were soldiers.

"I didn't have a preconceived notion that he had to go" into the service, Daris Long said, his eyes red beneath the brim of an old Marine Corps hat. "He chose."

William Long, 23, was shot dead Monday as he stood outside the recruiting center smoking a cigarette. He had recently completed basic training and had never seen combat. Pvt. Quinton I. Ezeagwula, 18, was wounded in the attack.

A Muslim convert, Abdulhakim Muhammad, 23, of Little Rock faces a capital murder charge and could face the death penalty. He has pleaded not guilty. Police said Muhammad told investigators that he attacked soldiers "because of what they had done to Muslims in the past" and aimed to "kill as many people in the Army as he could."

Material seized from Muhammad's truck and apartment - including guns, ammunition and Molotov cocktails - led federal agents to caution that copycat attacks could not be ruled out.

An FBI-Homeland Security intelligence assessment document obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday suggested Muhammad may have considered targeting other locations, including Jewish and Christian sites.

The FBI said Muhammad "conducted Internet searches related to different locations in several U.S. cities" including Atlanta, Little Rock, Louisville, Ky., Memphis, New York and Philadelphia and notified authorities in those locations.

New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said investigators found Google Earth images of various places, including Times Square. In Atlanta, FBI Agent Stephen Emmett said Muhammad had information regarding a "Jewish entity within our jurisdiction."

The office of Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said its law-enforcement liaison was not notified of additional threats.

Muhammad, formerly known as Carlos Bledsoe, moved to Little Rock this spring as his father, Melvin Bledsoe of Memphis, expanded a tour bus company. He was one of its drivers.

Long's funeral is set for Monday. He will be buried at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery.