Authorities say the suspect made threats during a confrontation with a security guard at the Houston place of worship.
HOUSTON — A Houston man is charged with making a terroristic threat after investigators say he threatened to kill “all Muslims and Jews” at the Ismaili Center Houston last month.
According to court documents, 29-year-old Jacolby Poindexter drove into the parking lot of the center along Allen Parkway on April 11 and began interacting with a security guard.
Investigators said Poindexter told the guard, “This is our hood and you guys are taking over.”
Court records state that when the guard asked him to leave, Poindexter allegedly made repeated threats, saying he would return and “kill all the Muslims and Jews.”
Houston police arrested Poindexter on Saturday. He later appeared before a magistrate judge, who said the complainant feared for the safety of the center’s congregants.
“Court does have serious concerns for complainant witness safety, community safety and members of congregations safety,” the judge said during the hearing.
Authorities said surveillance video helped identify Poindexter.
According to court documents, investigators interviewed him April 22 before his arrest. Records state Poindexter told police he was upset because of past experiences involving Islamic people but denied threatening to kill anyone. Investigators said he described his comments as “expressing his views.”
The alleged threat prompted the Ismaili Center to increase security measures, according to court records.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, a spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said he was grateful law enforcement took the allegations seriously.
“In America, people have the right to worship in peace, whether you’re Christian, Jewish, Muslim or anything else,” Mitchell said. “That’s a bedrock principle of our nation.”
Mitchell said the Muslim-American community remains vigilant following recent attacks targeting places of worship nationwide.
“Yes, we take precaution, yes we are as safe as possible, but we still have to live out our lives,” he said.
Poindexter bonded out of jail after his bond was set at $30,000.
KHOU 11 reached out to the Ismaili Center Houston for comment but had not received a response as of Tuesday afternoon.
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