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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The district attorney prosecuting the case against a man charged with beheading one co-worker and stabbing another said the attack likely had more to do with race than religion.

District Attorney Greg Mashburn said one of the co-workers Alton Nolen reportedly stabbed had reported to supervisors he did not like “white people.”

However, Mashburn also said Nolen planned to attack, “different races and different genders.”

Mashburn also said Nolen, who is charged with first-degree murder, had an obsession with beheading.

Nolen, who had converted to Islam, had anti-U.S. and Israel statement on his Facebook page as well as a beheading video.

Co-workers said he had been trying to convert them to Islam in the weeks before the attack.

While many people have questioned whether the attack was motivated by his Islamic faith, Mashburn said it appears Nolen was a disgruntled worker.

Nolen, who had just been fired, told police he went home and got a knife then returned and attacked the first person he saw.

An affidavit obtained by KFOR-TV stated Nolen, “openly admitted to ‘beheading’ the first victim with a knife and cutting and attempting to ‘behead’ the second victim with the knife.”

Colleen Hufford was dead when police arrived; Traci Johnson had stab wounds and a slash on her face.

Nolen was stopped when he was shot by a reserve deputy with whom he worked.

In addition to the murder charge, Nolen was also charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

In 2011, Nolen was convicted for assault and battery on a police officer.

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Betsy Randolph said, “He exploded out of the car, hit me in the chest and pushed me back.”

Randolph now says she wishes she had killed Nolen.

KFOR-TV has extensive coverage of this story.