Oklahoma will seek the death penalty for Alton Alexander Nolen , 30 , who is charged with first-degree murder in the beheading of a 54-year-old woman at his former workplace , District Attorney Greg Mashburn said in a court document Thursday . Nolen also faces an attempted murder charge in the stabbing attack on another woman , as well as a charge of assault with a deadly weapon , Mashburn said previously . Nolen should be punished with death , Thursday 's `` bill of particulars '' states , because his crime was `` especially heinous , atrocious or cruel , '' the defendant knowingly put multiple people at `` great risk of death , '' the defendant probably poses a `` continuing threat to society , '' and Nolen was previously convicted of a felony for using or threatening violence . Mashburn said Sunday that he would probably seek the death penalty after consulting with the victim 's family . Nolen , a recent convert to Islam , is accused of carrying out the attacks last week at a Vaughan Foods processing plant soon after he learned he 'd lost his job there . Nolen was trying `` to get revenge on certain people he felt responsible '' for his job loss , Mashburn said . The large kitchen knife used in the attack came from Nolen 's home , Mashburn said . The FBI is also investigating the attack because Nolen `` was saying Arabic terms in the attack , '' Mashburn said . The Oklahoma Department of Homeland Security is also investigating the incident . `` That investigation is still ongoing , and it is unclear at this time whether the crime was an act of terrorism , workplace violence or a gruesome combination of both , '' Fallin said in a statement . Police said Nolen walked into the Vaughan Foods front office September 25 and attacked one of the first people he encountered , Colleen Hufford , 54 . He severed her head with a knife and then attacked Traci Johnson , 43 . Johnson was one of three people Nolen was targeting , authorities said , and he was n't able to reach the other two . Hufford was attacked despite not being one of the three intended targets , the prosecutor said . Court papers said Nolen grabbed Hufford from behind and `` immediately began cutting her across the throat with the large knife , with a back and forth sawing motion . '' Nolen then grabbed Johnson and `` cut her across the throat and left side of her face with the knife '' in an attempt at a second beheading , according to a police affidavit . See copy of court papers and police affidavit ( PDF ) Mashburn said that while Nolen was employed at the plant , he made statements `` saying he did n't like white people , '' which prompted Johnson to file a complaint with the plant 's human resources department . Mark Vaughan , the company CEO and a reserve deputy with the Oklahoma County Sheriff 's Office , confronted and twice shot Nolen , authorities said . Vaughan arrived at the plant with a rifle and shot Nolen as he was charging with knife in hand , Mashburn said . In unrelated incidents , Nolen was convicted of assault and battery on a police officer , escape from detention and possession of marijuana , all in January 2011 , according to court papers filed by prosecutors .
Document says crime was ` ` especially heinous , atrocious or cruel '' Co - workers complained after Nolen spoke of not liking white people , official says . FBI called because suspect ` ` was saying Arabic terms '' during attacks , official says . Alton Alexander Nolen , 19 , is charged with murder , attempted murder , assault .