Mother of US worker who beheaded colleague after being sacked apologises
A US worker beheaded a colleague in a frenzied knife rampage after being fired from his job, authorities said on Friday.
Alton Nolen, 30, also wounded another colleague before being shot by the company's boss. He was taken to hospital and is in stable condition.
On Sunday, the attacker's mother Joyce Nolen apologised to the victim's families through Facebook.
She posted a video saying: "My heart is just so heavy right now. That's not my son.
"His family, our hearts bleed right now because what they saying Alton has done. I want to apologise to both families - because this is not Alton."
Loving and caring person
The attacker's sister also put up a post on Facebook saying her brother "has been a great influence to me and has always been a loving and caring person".
"He has never been a violent person and has never done any physical harm to anyone. Only God knows why what happened took place," she added.
The incident took place on Thursday at a food distribution firm in Oklahoma.
Severed victim’s head
Police spokesman Jeremy Lewis said: "Nolen went to the parking lot, then drove his vehicle to the front of the business... he then entered the main entrance."
"Nolen encountered and killed Colleen Hufford with a knife. During the attack, Nolen severed the victim’s head."
The second, wounded colleague was rushed to hospital and was in a stable condition.
No additional threat
Police said Nolen appears to have chosen his victims at random.
“After conducting interviews with Nolen’s co-workers, information was obtained that he recently started trying to convert several employees to the Muslim religion,” the spokesman said.
The FBI called the attack a “senseless tragedy.”
“The motive is undetermined at this time,” it said, but added: “There is no information currently in our possession to indicate there is any additional threat to the citizens of Oklahoma related to this incident.”
Source: AFP
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