John Muhammad's The Beltway Sniper
The Beltway Snipers was the name given to the two men, John Muhammad and Lee Malvo, who were responsible for the sniper attacks that occurred in the Washington D.C. area in 2002.
John Muhammad
John Muhammad was born John Williams, but changed his surname to Muhammad after joining the Nation of Islam in 1987. He was raised by his aunt from age four, due to the death of his mother (“John Allen Muhammad Biography,” n.d.). There is not much documentation about his childhood, but after he graduated from high school Muhammad seemed to be going down the right track; he was married, had a child, and joined the National Guard. He was successful until 1980, when he failed to report for duty and fought a fellow officer. In 1985, Muhammad radically changed his life by divorcing his wife, joining the Army, and becoming a member of the Nation of Islam (“John Allen Muhammad Biography,” n.d.). After moving to Washington for a fresh start, he remarried and had three children. Muhammad was a valuable asset to the Army and held promise of becoming a great marksman, but he once again decided to switch career paths and tried, unsuccessfully, to open several different businesses. His marriage once again dissolved and this time his wife obtained a restraining order due to Muhammad threatening her on multiple occasions. He struggled with the separation and took …show more content…
He and his mother moved to the Caribbean island of Antigua, where he was first introduced to John Muhammad who had just been separated from the children of his second marriage. In 2001, Malvo and his mother immigrated illegally to the United States, and moved into a homeless shelter in Bellington, Washington, where John Muhammad was residing as well (“Lee Boyd Malvo Biography,” n.d.). During this time, Muhammad and Malvo grew extremely
John Muhammad
John Muhammad was born John Williams, but changed his surname to Muhammad after joining the Nation of Islam in 1987. He was raised by his aunt from age four, due to the death of his mother (“John Allen Muhammad Biography,” n.d.). There is not much documentation about his childhood, but after he graduated from high school Muhammad seemed to be going down the right track; he was married, had a child, and joined the National Guard. He was successful until 1980, when he failed to report for duty and fought a fellow officer. In 1985, Muhammad radically changed his life by divorcing his wife, joining the Army, and becoming a member of the Nation of Islam (“John Allen Muhammad Biography,” n.d.). After moving to Washington for a fresh start, he remarried and had three children. Muhammad was a valuable asset to the Army and held promise of becoming a great marksman, but he once again decided to switch career paths and tried, unsuccessfully, to open several different businesses. His marriage once again dissolved and this time his wife obtained a restraining order due to Muhammad threatening her on multiple occasions. He struggled with the separation and took …show more content…
He and his mother moved to the Caribbean island of Antigua, where he was first introduced to John Muhammad who had just been separated from the children of his second marriage. In 2001, Malvo and his mother immigrated illegally to the United States, and moved into a homeless shelter in Bellington, Washington, where John Muhammad was residing as well (“Lee Boyd Malvo Biography,” n.d.). During this time, Muhammad and Malvo grew extremely