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Father of Man Accused of Shooting Two Soldiers Speaks Out
posted 06/10/09 9:47 pm
Channel 7 News - Father of Man Accused of Shooting Two Soldiers Speaks Out
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Little Rock, AR - The father of the man accused of shooting two soldiers last week says the man who opened fire at the army recruiting center is not the son he raised.  The father of Carlos Bledsoe, legally known as Abdulhakim Muhammad, says his son was a good kid but now needs psychological help.  Melvin Bledsoe spoke exclusively with Channel 7 saying his son has been brainwashed by hardcore Islamic terrorists.  He says Carlos recently went to Yemen to find his faith, but instead the trip transformed his son.

(Melvin Bledsoe, Suspect’s Father) "I was in total disbelief, could not imagine that forever that would be my son could be involved in such a very bad thing."

The thing Melvin Bledsoe's son is allegedly involved in is cold-blooded murder.  He's accused of shooting two soldiers standing outside a Little Rock military recruitment center.  Private Quinton Ezeagwula is still recovering, but Private William Long did not survive.

(Bledsoe) "That's not the son we raised, that's not the Carlos that we see with the smiling faces."

Bledsoe believes Carlos who now goes by Abdulhakim Muhammad was brainwashed in a Yemen prison.  He hasn't been able to visit his son in jail here yet but says he already know what he'll say.

(Bledsoe) "I'm going to say I love you.  I'm sorry this happened to you.  I'm going to say that God is going to help you and the people of the world know this is wrong."

The son Bledsoe wants the people of the world to remember is a happy kid who loved his family and sports.  He understands this incident has shattered lives, and in the midst of his grief he knows others are suffering more.

(Bledsoe) "We grieve for them as well as we grieve for ourselves.  It's been three families that have been destroyed and we're one of them."

Bledsoe also believes the US Government has mishandled this case.  He says Muhammad has been on the FBI (web) 's watch list for months.  Bledsoe claims if he had known he could have gotten his son help. 

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