North Carolina Teen Arrested in Texas Synagogue Attack Plot, Father Calls Charges 'Way Over the Top'

An 18-year-old woman from North Carolina is in custody after prosecutors said she planned a violent attack on a Texas synagogue with a plan of murdering “as many Jews as possible.” Officials said quick action by law enforcement may have prevented a mass casualty event.

Angelina Han Hicks was arrested on April 22 and appeared in court on the same day. She is now facing charges of felony conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon. A judge set her bond at $10 million.

The court says Hicks worked with two men, identified only as “Angel” and “Teegan,” and the group was planning to carry out an attack at Congregation Beth Israel in Houston, Texas. The alleged plan involved driving through a gathering at the synagogue.

The two men have not been arrested and remain unidentified. The judge noted the risk they pose. In a written order, the judge said allowing any contact with them will “put lives at risk.”

The case began with a tip received on April 22.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel said someone had warned the FBI that anonymous individuals in Lexington were planning a mass casualty attack at a Jewish day school near Houston. The Shlenker School, located on the synagogue campus, was identified in the report.

FBI teams in Charlotte and Houston worked with local officers in North Carolina to arrest Hicks. Patel said the quick response likely saved lives. He added that the investigation is still ongoing.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston said it has been in close contact with law enforcement and local Jewish leaders. The synagogue campus was closed on April 23 as a precaution. Officials later said other Jewish sites in the area could remain open, but police patrols have increased.

Hicks’ attorney, Chad Freeman, said it is too early to comment. He said he had only discussed basic matters with his client.

In a statement, which was shared by Hicks’ father with a local news outlet, he defended his daughter. He called the charges “fabricated" and “way over the top.” He said she is a student who was set to graduate in a couple of weeks.

He also claimed that the case might be linked to an online activity. "It was dark, and she shouldn't have been doing it, and we're sick over it," the father said. He also mentioned that she is not a threat to anyone.