Alton Nolen, Oklahoma beheading suspect, will be charged with 1st-degree murder
FBI investigating Facebook rants posted before workers were attacked
The Associated Press Posted: Sep 27, 2014 12:55 PM ET Last Updated: Sep 27, 2014 9:13 PM ET



A man who was shot after authorities say he beheaded one woman and attacked another at an Oklahoma food processing plant from which he had just been fired has regained consciousness and was interviewed by detectives Saturday.

Woman beheaded at Oklahoma food processing plant
Alton Nolen, 30, remains hospitalized in stable condition after Thursday's attack at the Vaughan Foods plant in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore, Police Sgt. Jeremy Lewis said. He said that Nolen will be charged Monday with first-degree murder and assault and battery with a deadly weapon and that he may also face federal charges.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for an Oklahoma City Islamic group said Saturday that Nolen was a frequent worshipper at a mosque the group maintains and that he remembers the suspect as "a little weird."

Suspect fired just before attack

"He was a nice, quiet, low-key guy," said Saad Mohammed, director of information for the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City. "He acted a little odd," Mohammed said, though he added that Nolen's behaviour never raised any "red flags."


Alton Nolen Facebook
Media reports say the suspect posted on Facebook under the name Jah'Keem Yisrael. (Facebook)

Mohammed said Nolen began worshipping at one of the group's mosques in May.

Lewis said Nolen was fired right before the attack, and that he then drove from the building that houses the company's human resources department to its main distribution centre.

Once inside, he attacked 54-year-old Colleen Hufford with a knife in the centre's administrative office area, eventually severing her head, according to police. Nolen then repeatedly stabbed 43-year-old Traci Johnson before Mark Vaughan, a reserve sheriff's deputy and the company's chief operating officer, shot him, police said.

Johnson was treated for her injuries at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center, where she was released Saturday, said Varina Shellman, clinical co-ordinator for the medical centre.

Surviving victim interviewed

Lewis said Johnson was also interviewed Saturday.

Police learned Nolen was fired for "numerous reasons" involving "personnel issues," Lewis said, adding that he didn't know the specifics.


Employees at the company's main distribution witnessed the grisly attacks. (Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman/Associated Press)

Police asked the FBI to help investigate Nolen after co-workers told investigators he had recently started trying to convert several employees to Islam. He said police asked the FBI to look into Lewis' background because of the nature of the attack, which followed a series of high-profile videotaped beheadings by Islamic State militants in Syria.

Mohammed said Nolen had attended services where sermons were delivered condemning such attacks.

"In no way, shape or form did he represent Islam in this foolish act," Mohammed said.

In a statement, FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Finch said the motive for the attack had not been determined, but that there is no reason to believe there was a threat to anyone else.

"We don't have any reason to believe there is any danger to the area," Lewis said.

According to Oklahoma Department of Corrections records, Nolen served time in prison and is on probation for assault and battery of a police officer. He also was convicted of cocaine possession with the intent to distribute in 2011.

The records show that Nolen has what appear to be religious tattoos, including one referencing Jesus and one in Arabic that means "peace be with you."