VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- A jury recommended the death penalty today for convicted sniper killer John Allen Muhammad, reaching a decision in less than 90 minutes after deliberations resumed this morning about the fate of the mastermind in last fall's terrifying sniper attacks.

As he has throughout the six-week trial, Muhammad showed no visible reaction as a court clerk read the decision aloud in a hushed courtroom. He stood behind the defense table, his hands clasped before him, and stared ahead impassively.

The jury of seven women and five men reached the decision after deliberating five and a half hours over two days. Virginia law requires that a death sentence be unanimous. The jury had shown signs of some division Friday, asking in a note to the judge what would happen if they could not reach a unanimous decision.

But whatever differences existed, they were gone today. The jury began its deliberations today just after 9 a.m. and announced it had reached a verdict a few minutes before 10:30...