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A 2009 terrorist shooting in Little Rock took the life of Private William Long and wounded
Private Quinton Ezeagwula. Now a bill could recognize the Army men with a Purple Heart
Award.
KTHV's Dustin Wilson spoke with both of the families and joins us now for more. Dustin.
Liz, the families tell me that a Purple Heart would make them feel recognized and appreciated
by the government. And although it won't take away the pain of the 2009 shooting, it will
help other soilders wounded or killed in attackes on US soil, receive the honor they deserve.
On June 1, 2009, this Army Career Center in Little Rock became a terrorist zone when Abdulhakim
Muhammad took the life of Private William Long and wounded Private Quinton Ezeagwula.
This day changed the lives of two families forever.
"You don't leave someone on the battlefied. And in this case, I believe these two soldiers
were left." Daris Long wants his son and others who die in terrorist attacks on American soil
to be considered for the Purple Heart.
Quinton Ezeagwula says the Purple Heart would lighten the burden of the past. "It would
be a blessing to my family because, you know, I feel like what happened that day was really
really severe to me and my family."
U.S. Senator Mark Pryor is co-sponsoring a bill to ensure that soliders who were wounded
or fallen at home are not forgotten. "We just want to make sure that they're treated the
same as the folks who are killed or wounded overseas that are part of a terrorist attack."
Despite the Army's lack of recognition since the shooting, Sonya Ezeagwula views her son
as a hero. "What he did wasn't in vain. So people can see that if you do the right thing,
there is a payoff. And the payoff is being recognized as a hero and in your community."
Ezeagwula hopes his service can be a positive influence to his younger family members. "And
I just want them, you know, I want to show them, there's something more than what's out
here in the world and in these streets. I want to show them that you can do better in
your whole life."
Recognition or not, Daris Long still lost his son, but continues to push for his legacy
so that others who fall in the U.S. can be remembered. "It helps when their sacrifices
is recognized for what it was."
Ezeagwula says a Purple Heart will also help him gain Veterans Affairs' benefits and improve
the quality of life for him and his family. Liz.
Alright, Dustin. Thank you. In December of last year, Darrus Long spoke to Congress about
the two soldiers' sacrifice. Long said a member of the Department of Defense told him that
they didn't know the language in the current law left out soliders who were killed in the
U.S.