District attorney: Race may have played a bigger role than religion in Oklahoma beheading case

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Cleveland County District Attorney said 30-year-old Alton Nolen may have been more concerned with race than religion -- as previously reported -- when he allegedly beheaded a coworker and stabbed another at an office last week.

According to KFOR.com, Nolen, who worked at a food processing plant, was suspended from work and went home to get a knife before coming back to the business Thursday. Nolen allegedly wanted to "get revenge" on the people he thought were responsible for the suspension, District Attorney Greg Mashburn said.

Mashburn said he first came across 54-year-old Collen Hufford and attacked her before finding 43-year-old Traci Johnson.

Authorities said race -- not religion -- may have played a greater factor in the the attacks. According to KFOR.com, Mashburn says Nolen didn't like "white people," which was one of the reasons Johnson complained to supervisors.

He says the target was “not only women” and there were three different people on his mind to attack. KFOR.com reported.

They were all “different races and different genders," Masburns said.

However, the district attorney says it is clear that Nolen had an infatuation with beheadings.

While Nolen is currently facing three charges, he could face other charges because he allegedly chased away other employees with the knife who were trying to stop the attack.

At this time, Mashburn says it is “highly likely” that prosecutors will seek the death penalty

Nolen is still in Oklahoma Unviersity Medical Center for treatment for gunshot wounds.

For more information on Nolen and the beheadings, click here.