FBI fatally shot Colleyville hostage taker, called his actions ‘a hate crime’ and ‘act of terrorism’

The gunman who took hostages inside a Colleyville synagogue last weekend died after FBI agents shot him following a nearly 11-hour standoff that authorities called an act of terrorism.

Matthew DeSarno, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Dallas office, said at a news conference Friday that the incident was committed by a terrorist targeting the Jewish community.

“Let me be clear,” he said, “this was both a hate crime and an act of terrorism.”

His remarks were a shift in tone from the initial statements he made last weekend, when he said the actions of Malik Faisal Akram, 44, were not related to the Jewish community.

Akram took four hostages, including Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, inside the Congregation Beth Israel in the 6100 block of Pleasant Run Road during a Shabbat service broadcast online.

He died “as a result of the deadly force employed by the FBI,” when they breached the building, DeSarno said.

Akram died at 9:22 p.m. from multiple gunshot wounds, and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner. It’s not clear how many times or where Akram was shot.

During the standoff, Akram demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman serving an 86-year sentence for shooting at two U.S. military officers during an interrogation. She is being imprisoned near the synagogue.

DeSarno said Congregation Beth Israel was targeted because Akram believed thought it was the closest synagogue to where Siddiqui is being held.

Authorities are still working to determine how Akram obtained a gun. No explosives were discovered at the scene and the FBI has not identified any other credible threats related to the incident, DeSarno said.

‘An act of terror’

Many of the details about Akram’s movements before he took hostages are unknown, but authorities said they are starting to piece together his activities, beginning with when he landed in New York on Dec. 29.

Colleyville Police Chief Michael Miller said officials received a tip from someone who had interacted with Akram on a bike trail near the Colleyville Soccer Complex on Pleasant Run Road the day before the standoff.

Officers found a mountain bike chained to a fence near the complex and were able to unlock it using a key Akram had on him, Miller said. Congregation Beth Israel is less than a mile away from the complex, about 28 miles northwest of Dallas.

DeSarno said authorities believe they have identified everyone with whom Akram had contact in the area — including the person he hugged after being dropped off at Dallas homeless shelter OurCalling in early January. But they didn’t release any names.

An international terrorism investigation is ongoing, DeSarno said.

“[Akram] committed an act of terror based on an anti-Semitic worldview in order to secure the release of a convicted terrorist,” DeSarno said. “I don’t know when that motive came about ― if it was seven years ago or two days before. But that was the motive for conducting the attack.”

A young officer responds

The first police officer arrived at Congregation Beth Israel at 10:45 a.m. on Jan. 15.

While the initial call came in as a disturbance, the officer recognized it as a potential hostage situation almost immediately. The young officer with two years’ experience had “the insight of a veteran officer,” Miller said, and notified police over his radio one minute and 23 seconds after he arrived at the building.

“This set the tone for the entire incident,” Miller said.

Hostage Jeffrey R. Cohen said he called 911 after hearing “that unmistakable sound of an automatic slide engaging a round.”

Before hostage negotiators took over, 911 dispatchers spoke with Cytron-Walker and Akram for an hour and a half, he said.

“At the same time, they were inundated with 911 calls, calls from the public, calls from the media, and all the while continuing to provide services to the two other cities,” Miller said. “Really a fantastic job by these professionals.”

Cytron-Walker, who has a personal relationship with the police chief, was also texting updates to Miller throughout the incident.

‘Terrifying’

Cytron-Walker, who also spoke at Friday’s news conference at a Colleyville venue, described most of the 11-hour standoff as calm.

He said he initially let Akram inside the synagogue and made him a cup of tea because he looked like he needed shelter.

“There was a long period of calm conversation,” he said. “[Akram] was talking with us, he wasn’t yelling at us and we were able to have conversation.”

The morning service was being streamed live on Facebook, and Akram could be heard speaking, at times angrily. Several times, he said he was going to die. The video played for several hours until it was removed around 2 p.m.

All of the people inside the synagogue were constantly looking for an opportunity to leave, Cytron-Walker said.

“We were fearful the whole time. It’s hard not to be with someone with a gun in their hand, kind of pointing it at you the whole time,” Cytron-Walker said calmly. “The first hour or so, hour and a half, was extremely, extremely upsetting — extremely, extremely terrifying.”

Even though everyone was looking for an opportunity to flee the building, they wanted to escape together, Cytron-Walker said.

“None of us could imagine one person going and leaving the others behind,” he said.

Around 5 p.m., one of the hostages was released from the synagogue. Food and medical aid was also delivered to the building.

Throughout the entire incident, the hostages relied on active-shooter training to attempt escape. They avoided going to the back of the room and stayed near the exits. They tried to remain calm and deliberate, and didn’t make sudden moves. They placed chairs in front of themselves in case they could divert a bullet or shrapnel.

Things took a turn for the worse toward the end of the night. Both Cytron-Walker and DeSarno described Akram as increasingly agitated.

“It was really bad. I was absolutely in fear of my life,” Cytron-Walker said. “I was kind of wondering like, OK, FBI [come get us].”

Around 9 p.m., the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team was authorized to breach the synagogue on the south and west sides.

“He went from extremely agitated with the negotiator to all of the sudden very calm ... just asking me for juice,” Cytron-Walker said. “I was highly, highly concerned in that moment. And yet fortunately that gave us the opportunity, when he had liquid in his hand. That was part of the opportunity that we took advantage of.”

Cytron-Walker threw a chair at Akram to give the hostages a chance to flee.

As the team approached the building, the remaining hostages escaped through a door on the northeast side, DeSarno said.

Video of the hostages escaping was captured by WFAA.

DeSarno credited Cytron-Walker for his bravery throughout that day.

“Rabbi Charlie was a rock, even amidst his own crisis,” DeSarno said. “He was a leader, a teacher and a protector. He provided safety, orchestrating a daring, successful escape.

“Personally his conduct throughout the day provided me with a level of comfort and confidence that is difficult for me to explain.”