Alton Nolen, the man accused of beheading his Oklahoma co-worker Friday, has a Muslim tattoo on his chest.
Nolen has a tattoo on his abdomen reading “AS-SALAAMU ATAIKUM,” according to Oklahoma Department of Corrections records. The Arabic message, essentially meaning “peace be upon you,” is used as a greeting by Muslims.
Nolen also has three other tattoos, including one of Jesus Christ and one of hands praying. Nolen reportedly tried to convert his co-workers at Vaughan Foods to Islam. After he was fired, Nolen beheaded a 54-year old female co-worker and stabbed another co-worker, who is currently hospitalized, before being shot and injured by police.
Nolen was last released from prison in March 2013, so he has had the tattoo longer than some news reports, which said that he only recently converted to Islam, would suggest. Nolen served slightly less than two years for a conviction on a drug charge.
In October 2010, Nolen led state troopers on an overnight manhunt on an Oklahoma highway that involved helicopter surveillance. Nolen, then 26, had a P.O. box as his permanent address and previous drug arrests:
Nolen was finally apprehended: