‘A personal space has been violated,’ Dallas shelter says after hostage-taker’s stay
The Colleyville synagogue gunman stayed at OurCalling Resource Center in Dallas on Jan. 2, telling providers that he had been sleeping on the streets. Nothing about his behavior seemed suspicious, the center said Tuesday in a statement.
Malik Faisal Akram, 44, of Great Britain, arrived at OurCalling on Dallas’ South Cesar Chavez Boulevard a little after 10 p.m., according to the statement. The shelter had opened its doors because of the cold weather.
Akram was dropped off by a heavy set man in a gray hoodie who wore a beanie, said Patrick Palmer, the center’s chief advancement officer. He said it was hard to tell the man’s race and age, but he said said the man spent 15 to 20 minutes in the center with Akram before giving Akram a hug and leaving. Akram left the next day.
Akram was killed Saturday at the end of an 11-hour standoff at Congregation Beth Israel. Little is known about where he spent his time in the two weeks he was in the United States.
“In this case, obviously he didn’t come to our facility to cause trouble that particular night,” Palmer told the Star-Telegram in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “He came to our city to cause trouble and definitely disrupted the hearts and minds of all of our people. And now, learning about this, it feels like a personal space has been violated.”
When people arrive at the center seeking shelter, Palmer said they’re normally asked traditional case management questions about their life and circumstances. They’re also given a COVID-19 test. Palmer said Akram’s came back negative.
OurCalling doesn’t make people who come to seek shelter go through a metal detector, nor do they check their bags, Palmer said, which is done in an effort to not criminalize them. Palmer said 80% of people experiencing homelessness are usually resistant to that type of treatment, and won’t go into a shelter that takes those measures.
Akram arrived at New York’s JFK International Airport on Dec. 29, according to the New York Post. His known list of stops in Dallas also included the Union Gospel Mission of Dallas, where he stayed Jan. 6, 11 and 13, according to CNN.
Palmer said his shelter checked its records after learning Akram had spent time at Union Gospel Mission, and found Akram’s stay at OurCalling. The staff sent security footage to the FBI.
“We provide this service for our most vulnerable neighbors,” Palmer said. “And when they are coming to seek refuge, there’s nothing more disturbing to know that, for them to know that while they were seeking refuge, a predator came and took advantage of that resource.”
Palmer said other shelters were interested in seeing if Akram had stayed with them.
“It’s a good reminder that there’s, that vulnerable people are oftentimes surrounded by vicious predators, and it’s the community’s opportunity to stand in the gap for our vulnerable neighbors and helping them find long-term solutions into a safe space where they’re no longer being victimized like this,” Palmer said.
