Press release: People v. Ansar El Muhammad, September 7, 2001

District Attorney Jan Scully announced that Ansar El Muhammad, aka Nicholas Edwards, was sentenced today to 50 years and 4 months followed by 14 years to life for the attempted murder of Charles Husted, a Sacramento City Police Officer, and for two counts of armed robbery.

On July 1, 1998, the defendant robbed Day's Market at gunpoint, fleeing on a bike with $333 in cash. Five minutes and a few blocks later, Sacramento City Police Officer Charles Husted saw a subject who partially matched the description of the robber that had just been broadcast. Officer Husted grabbed the defendant who resisted, hitting the officer in the face. Muhammad/ Edwards then reached into his pocket, pulled out a handgun, and came up shooting. A bullet went through the velcro strap on Officer Husted's body armor and penetrated his left shoulder. Officer Husted returned fire, hitting the defendant. The defendant continued to shoot as he fled, so Officer Husted opened the door of his patrol car and released his canine partner, Pele. As the defendant fired several more shots, Pele chased him and brought him down. When recovered, the defendant's revolver had nine empty shell casings in the cylinder.

The defendant showed no remorse for his conduct right up to the end, even verbally abusing the judge, the victim, and the victim's wife at his sentencing. According to Deputy District Attorney Ron Wells, "The defendant is a violent predator, who thought nothing of trying to murder a police officer to make good his escape. I can think of no one who deserves to spend the rest of his natural life in prison more than the defendant."