Accused shooter at recruiting station may have targeted Atlanta

The FBI confirmed Wednesday it was investigating the possibility an Atlanta Jewish site was among other planned targets of a Muslim convert accused of killing a soldier outside a Conway, Ark., recruiting center earlier this week.

Stephen Emmett, spokesman for the Atlanta FBI office, said the subsequent investigation into the shooting turned up evidence to suggest Abdulhakim Muhammad, 23, of Little Rock, had plans for a “Jewish entity” in Atlanta. The Associated Press reported memos from the investigation showed Little Rock, 30 miles from Conway, as well as New York, Philadelphia, Louisville, Ky., and Memphis, Tenn., were also on Muhammad’s list.

Emmett declined to say what specific site in Atlanta might have been in Muhammad’s plans, but “precautions were taken [in Atlanta] because of the serious nature of the Little Rock” shooting.

“We are attempting to learn more from the Little Rock investigation as it might pertain to our jurisdiction,” Emmett said.

Muhammad, a Muslim convert, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to state charges he killed Pvt. William Long, 23, and wounded Pvt. Quinton I. Ezeagwula, 18, while they were smoking outside the recruiting office. Both recently completed basic training but had not seen combat.

Muhammad is being held without bond by Arkansas authorities.

He also could face federal charges, officials said.

Among the details the AP reported were:

Searches of Muhammad’s computer turned up maps in several states to Jewish organizations, a child care center, a Baptist church, a post office, military recruiting centers and Times Square in New York City.

“Out of an abundance of caution, and in light of newly discovered information, the FBI cannot rule out additional subjects, targets, or the potential for inspired copycats who might act out in support of the original act,” an intelligence assessment said.

Muhammad had the firepower to take out many more on his mission to “kill as many people in the Army as he could.” He allegedly targeted soldiers “because of what they had done to Muslims in the past,” and he wanted to “kill as many people in the Army as he could.”

Police stopped Muhammad moments after the shootings on a highway to Memphis, where he lived until he moved to Little Rock recently.

Search warrant affidavits showed that police found weapons and caches of ammunition from Muhammad’s truck and apartment. Officers confiscated an SKS assault rifle believed to be used in the shootings, a .22-caliber rifle with a laser sight, other firearms, Molotov cocktails, homemade silencers and compact disks with Arabic writing on them.

The truck also held a plastic tub filled with bottles of water, “canned food, boxed food, bagged food and a butane lighter” and, incongruously, a golf score card.