Prosecutor cool to plea shift in recruiter killing

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A prosecutor says he won't waive the death penalty in the slaying of a soldier outside an Arkansas military recruiting center after the suspect asked to change his plea.

Pulaski County Prosecutor Larry Jegley said Friday that he still planned to move forward with the June trial of Abdulhakim Muhammad, who faces capital murder and attempted capital murder charges. Pvt. William Long of Conway was killed in the June 1 shooting in Little Rock. Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula of Jacksonville was wounded.

Muhammad has sent a letter to the judge in his case asking to change his plea to guilty. In the two-page, handwritten letter, Muhammad claims that he is affiliated with al-Qaida.

Muhammad's attorney says prosecutors would have to agree to waive the death penalty for a judge to consider the request.