An 18-year-old North Carolina teenager allegedly planned a mass-casualty attack on a synagogue in Houston, Texas, according to the FBI. Angelina Hicks, of Lexington, was arrested in Davidson County on April 22 and faces felony conspiracy charges, including conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury and conspiracy to commit murder.
The FBI's Charlotte field office revealed that a tip led to the discovery of the alleged plot. Hicks is accused of conspiring with two individuals, identified only as “Teegan” and “Angel,” to target Congregation Beth Israel in Houston. The attack was reportedly planned for April 21, 2028, with the intention of “killing as many Jews as possible by driving through a congregation at a synagogue,” according to a court order obtained by The Houston Chronicle.
Evidence recovered from Hicks’ home in Lexington pointed to the synagogue plot, though specific details of the evidence were not disclosed. A 16-year-old in Harris County, Texas, has also been charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder in connection with the case.
Hicks’ parents have disputed the allegations, describing their daughter’s online activity as role-play and fantasy rather than a genuine plan. “It’s ludicrous. It’s a fantasy game,” her father, Dannie Hicks, told WFMY. “She don’t drive. She ain’t got a car. She don’t have guns. She don’t know how to use a gun. How’s she gonna get to Texas?” They noted she was weeks away from graduating from Valley Regional Academy and enrolled in a dual-enrollment community college program.
Hicks is being held on a $10 million bond and is scheduled to appear in Davidson County District Court on May 13. The FBI praised the public tip that foiled the alleged plot, stating, “This is an exceptional example of when you see something concerning, you say something to law enforcement.”
