Shivangi Sinha
The hostage crisis at Congregation Beth Israel involved four individuals who were held captive: Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, along with Shane Woodard, Larry Schwartz, and Jeff Cohen. Despite the tense and dangerous situation, all four hostages ultimately escaped without physical harm. Much of this was credited to the rabbi’s training and presence of mind, which played a crucial role in ensuring their safety and eventual escape. The incident and the fate of the perpetrator are подробно explored in the episode titled ‘Held Captive in the Synagogue’ from Paramount+’s ‘FBI True,’ which details how the situation unfolded.
Malik Faisal Akram Was Shot After His Four Hostages Escaped the Synagogue
On the morning of January 15, 2022, a man posing as homeless entered Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, around 10 am. What began as a routine morning quickly turned dangerous when he pulled out a gun and took four people hostage. They were Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, Shane Woodard, Larry Schwartz, and Jeff Cohen. Authorities were alerted immediately, and by 11:30 am, the situation had been made public as law enforcement and trained negotiators surrounded the synagogue. The hostage-taker was later identified as Malik Faisal Akram, a 44-year-old British national from Blackburn, Lancashire, in the UK.
He had traveled to the US in December 2021, landing in New York before eventually making his way to Texas. Soon after the standoff began, he started communicating with police outside and demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui, who had been convicted in connection with an attempted assault on US personnel in Afghanistan. He insisted that Rabbi Cytron-Walker contact influential members of the Jewish community to help secure her release. Akram allowed the hostages access to their phones, which enabled them to stay in touch with family and friends during the ordeal. At one point, he also spoke with his brother, telling him that he was willing to sacrifice his life for his cause and would go to any lengths to see his demands fulfilled.
This understandably raised serious fears for the safety of the hostages. Negotiators urged him to release one of them, and he eventually let the oldest hostage, Larry Schwartz, go. However, his behavior grew increasingly agitated as the three remaining men continued trying to calm him down. They stayed composed and waited for the right moment to act. Seizing an opportunity, Rabbi Cytron-Walker threw a chair at Akram, creating a distraction that allowed all three hostages to run out to safety. Shortly after, at around 9:22 pm, the FBI Hostage Rescue Team entered the synagogue, and Akram was shot and killed inside the building.
Rabbi Charlie Sytron-Walker is Working in a Temple in North Carolina Today
Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, originally from Lansing, Michigan, graduated from the University of Michigan in 1998 with a BA in social sciences. Even before completing his degree, he was deeply involved in community service, working as a senior ambassador for Focus: HOPE in Detroit from 1989 to 1999. He then moved to Massachusetts, where he served as assistant director of the Amherst Survival Center from 1999 to 2001, coordinating volunteers, counseling individuals, and organizing events for its food pantry, free store, and soup kitchen. Pursuing his rabbinical path, he studied at the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem and Cincinnati, earning his MA in Hebrew Letters in 2005 and being ordained as a rabbi in 2006.
During his studies, he interned at Temple Sholom in Cincinnati from 2004 to 2006 and served congregations in Ishpeming, Fort Walton Beach, and Cincinnati, receiving multiple community service awards and recognition from QESHET. In 2006, he became the first full-time rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, where he served for over 17 years, promoting interfaith dialogue and education. After resigning in 2021, he was hired by Temple Emanuel in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 2022, where he now serves, along with advising the Anti-Defamation League on security. He is married to Adena Cytron, and they have two daughters.
Shane Woodward is a VP and Executive Board Member at the Temple
Shane Woodward did not grow up Jewish, and in 2022, he was in the process of converting to the faith he had found. The shock of the incident lingered, and during anniversaries, he and the other congregants often gathered for meals and reflection, sharing a sense of responsibility and awareness of what had transpired. Throughout this period, his wife Jennifer has been a steadfast support. Professionally, Shane has built a long career in IT and infrastructure management. He began as a Technical Analyst at Verizon from 2000 to 2006, managing server and desktop infrastructure for millions of customers. He then worked at American Messaging, PepsiCo, and Lamb Weston.
Shane currently serves as a Digital Workspace Engineer at Keurig Dr. Pepper in Frisco, Texas. He has been here since November 2025. Alongside his career, he dedicates significant time to volunteering at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville. Since 2023, he has served as Religious Practices Chair and Board Member at Large, coordinating services, life cycle events, and community engagement, and in 2025, he became Vice President and Executive Board Member, helping ensure the synagogue runs smoothly and efficiently.
Larry Schwartz Passed Away After Leading a Long and Happy Life
Lawrence “Larry” Keith Schwartz was born in New Haven. He went on to earn his degree from Yale University’s School of Engineering in 1956. That same year, he married Merle Weitzman, and the couple settled in New Haven as Larry began his career at New Haven Trap Rock Co. as an assistant engineer. Soon after, he discovered a passion for structural steel and joined City Iron Works in Wethersfield as a structural designer. Over time, he became a partner in Shepard Steel Company, building a career that combined technical skill with leadership.
During these years, he and Merle raised their three sons, Andrew, Peter, and Jonathan, while making West Hartford their home for the next 67 years. After retiring at the age of 70, Larry and Merle split their time seasonally, spending winters in Palm Desert, California, enjoying the warmer climate and a slower pace of life. Family remained central, and Larry took pride in his three grandchildren, who adored him. Larry passed away on February 28, 2026, leaving behind a life defined by dedication to his work and love for his family.
Jeff Cohen is an Accomplished Engineer in Texas
Jeffrey “Jeff” Cohen has built a diverse and accomplished career across multiple industries. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1986, specializing in control systems, and later completed a Master of Science in Information Technology at Capella University in 2004, focusing on software design. Jeff is also a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas. Since moving to Texas in 1986, Jeff has held a series of impactful technical and leadership roles. He began as a Cross-Brand Competitive Architect – Middleware at IBM in 2012. From 2017 to 2020, he provided systems engineering consulting, training, and mentoring at SodiusWillert and 321Gang, LLC, focusing on the full Systems Engineering and Software Development Lifecycle.
In 2020, he joined KBR, Inc. as MBSE Lead for Exploration Medical Capability at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, and since 2021, he has been a Senior Model-Based Systems Staff Engineer at Lockheed Martin in Grand Prairie, Texas. Jeff is married and has two grown children. Beyond his professional work, he has given interviews and contributed insights featured in the ‘Colleyville’ documentary, along with the other survivors. He has even held important positions within the congregation, which was the President at the time of the attack. He is still based out of Keller, Texas, and has been close to the people with whom he endured the horrific day.
Read More: Kay Harrelson and Peggy Merimon’s Murders: What Happened to Mickey Patterson?
