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UPDATE: Army recruiting shooter declines name change

Reported by: David Goins
Email: dgoins@fox16.com
Last Update: 6/30 7:20 pm
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Muhammad faces a murder charge and 16 counts of terroristic acts for killing 1 soldier and injuring another.
Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammad,23
The man charged with shooting two Army recruiters, killing one of them, says in court Tuesday he no longer wants to change his name.  It was part of a civil hearing for Abdulhakim Muhammad, 23, who also faces a capital murder charge for his accused act of domestic terrorism.

FOX16 News was the only station at the hearing.

Pulaski County prosecutors are still working on filing formal criminal charges against Abdulhakim Muhammad.

Muhammad didn't appear to know which way to go stepping into the hallway on the fourth floor of the Pulaski County courthouse.

David Goins says: “Mr. Muhammad, do you have anything to say?"  Abdulhakim Muhammad says: "Allah akbar."

"Allah Akbar" is an Arabic phrase for “God is great.”

Muhammad petitioned to have his name changed on April 23 back to his given last name of Bledsoe.  Six weeks later he admitted to Little Rock Police detectives to pulling up in front of the Army/Navy recruiting center on Rodney Parham and opening fire on uniformed soldiers standing on the sidewalk.

He's accused of killing U.S. Army Pvt. William Long of Conway and injuring Pvt. Quinton Ezeaqwula of Jacksonville.

In court Tuesday afternoon, he told First District Judge Marion Humphrey he changed his mind and wants to cancel his request for the name change.  The hearing lasted approximately one minute.

After the hearing, he briefly spoke up.

Goins says: "Why don't you want to change your name back to Bledsoe?"  Muhammad says: "Uh, it doesn't matter anymore.”  Goins says: “Why doesn't it matter anymore?"

Muhammad didn't answer that question or any others related to his pending capital murder case and 16 counts of committing a terroristic act.

In previous telephone interviews from jail with the Associated Press, Muhammad said he doesn't feel the shooting of Pvt. Long is murder, because murder is when a person kills another person without justified reason.

Goins says: "Do you have anything to say to the family of Private Long?"

Muhammad returned to the Pulaski County jail, under 24-hour surveillance, in an isolated cell.

Due to a gag order in the case barring all parties from talking to the media, prosecutors have not said when formal criminal charges will be filed, but it is expected to happen in the next month.
Copyright 2009 Newport Television LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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