Law enforcement officials in Texas are negotiating with a man who has allegedly taken hostages during services at a synagogue in Colleyville, which is located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
“The service was being livestreamed on Facebook, and the live recording has continued to capture muffled audio of what sounds like negotiations with police,” the Fort Worth Star Telegram reported. “The man has repeatedly mentioned his sister and Islam and used profanities. At one point, another voice can be heard apparently talking on the phone to police. The man has said a few times he didn’t want anyone hurt, and he has mentioned his children.”
The Colleyville Police Department posted updates on their Twitter account alerting the public to ongoing police activity, and instructing people to avoid the area.
“We are currently conducting SWAT operations around the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Rd. All residents in the immediate area are being evacuated. Please avoid the area,” the department wrote. “UPDATE 1/15/22, 1:20 PM The situation at the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Road posted about earlier remains ongoing. We ask that you continue to avoid the area. We will continue to provide updates via social media.”
UPDATE 1/15/22, 1:20 PM The situation at the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Road posted about earlier remains ongoing. We ask that you continue to avoid the area. We will continue to provide updates via social media.
— Colleyville Police (@ColleyvillePD) January 15, 2022
Star Telegram reporter Jessika Harkay tweeted out remarks that the hostage taker allegedly made, which could be heard on the synagogue’s live stream posted on Facebook before the tech giant took down the video.
“Don’t cry on the f***ing phone with me,” a person, who is allegedly the hostage taker, said on the livestream. “Don’t f***ing cry on me. I have 6 beautiful kids … There are hostages in the synagogue who are going to die. … What are you crying for?”
“I’m going to die, are you listening? … I’m going to die doing this, alright? Are you listening? I’m going to die. Don’t cry about me,” the person allegedly says. “I’m going to die. Don’t cry about me. Are you listening? I am going to die.”
A resident, near the parking lot media is near, told me the speaker is the gunman. The live stream is pointed at a wall, unable to see who's speaking, or who's in the building.
— Jessika Harkay (@JessikaHarkay) January 15, 2022
"I'm going to die. Don't cry about me," the man has repeated over and over. "Are you listening? I am going to die," he repeats over and over.
— Jessika Harkay (@JessikaHarkay) January 15, 2022
Colleyville Police Sgt. Dara Nelson said that law enforcement is in contact with the alleged suspect and that police have not yet entered the building.
“Texas Department of Public Safety officials confirmed that state troopers are helping Colleyville police at the scene, but more information was not available,” WFAA reported. “The FBI was also responding to the situation.”
Democrat President Joe Biden attacked Texas Governor Greg Abbott back in 2019 for signing a bill into law that allowed lawful gun owners to carry firearms in places of worship, repeatedly calling Abbott’s decision “irrational.”
“Dealing with firearms, it is irrational, with all due respect to the governor of Texas, irrational what they are doing,” Biden told reporters on September 2. “On the very day you see a mass shooting … and we’re talking about loosening access to have guns, to be able to take them into places of worship, it’s just absolutely irrational. It’s totally irrational.”
This article has been expanded after publication to include additional information.