A disturbing incident in Euless, Texas, has led to charges of attempted capital murder and injury to a child against Elizabeth Wolf, 42, who allegedly tried to drown a 3-year-old child in an apartment complex pool. The case has drawn attention as a possible hate crime targeting a Muslim family.
On May 19, Euless Police Department officers responded to a disturbance call at an apartment complex pool. Witnesses reported that an intoxicated woman had attempted to drown a child and argued with the child’s mother. Wolf was arrested at the scene for public intoxication.
According to police reports, Wolf approached the victim’s mother, who was visibly Muslim and wearing a hijab, questioning her nationality and making racial statements. The situation escalated when Wolf allegedly tried to grab the mother’s 6-year-old son before forcibly submerging the 3-year-old daughter underwater. The mother managed to rescue her daughter, who was coughing up water.
The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has identified the family as Muslim and Palestinian. CAIR is calling on state and federal law enforcement to investigate the incident as a hate crime and take measures to protect the Muslim community.
The mother, identified only as Mrs. H, expressed her fear and distress, stating, “We are American citizens, originally from Palestine, and I don’t know where to go to feel safe with my kids. My country is facing a war, and we are facing that hate here.”
Wolf has since posted bail, set at $25,000 for the attempted capital murder charge and $15,000 for the injury to a child charge. It is unclear if she has legal representation.
CAIR’s Austin operations manager, Shaimaa Zayan, has called for a hate-crime probe, higher bail, and discussions with officials to address the rise in Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian sentiment.
Texas Rep. Salman Bhojani condemned the incident, stating, “Hate has no place in Euless, District 92, or anywhere in our great state.” He commended the Euless Police Department for their swift action and offered support to the affected family.
This case highlights growing concerns about hate crimes against Muslim and Arab Americans, prompting calls for increased awareness and protective measures for vulnerable communities.
CNN