The Federal Bureau of Investigation is trying to identify the man who dropped a 44-year-old British national, Malik Faisal Akram, the alleged “Colleyville hostage-taker,” at a homeless shelter in Dallas.
The FBI identified Akram as the suspect who attacked a synagogue in Colleyville, taking four hostages.
As reported by The Dallas Express, Akram seemed to have a relationship with the person who dropped him off at a Dallas Homeless Shelter.
According to Wayne Walker, the CEO and pastor at OurCalling, Akram and the other person seemed to know each other well enough, and both men hugged as they departed.
“The two guys came up to our door, talked for a while outside before they came in. He walked him all the way to the front to our team,” said Walker.
The FBI is now trying to identify and locate the man who dropped Akram at the shelter, according to reports on FOX 4 News.
While FBI investigators maintained that Akram acted alone, they said they would like to find and talk to Akram’s acquaintance who dropped him off at the Dallas shelter.
“There are obviously others unknown here in the United States who may have been involved and or assisted him,” said Danny Defenbaugh, former Special Agent in Charge of the Dallas FBI, according to FOX 4 News.
Defenbaugh added that investigators are working to determine how Akram got the weapon he used and how he got to the synagogue. Defenbaugh said finding answers to these two questions is critical to identifying others who may have been involved with Akram.
Investigators are also trying to figure out why Akram picked the Colleyville synagogue.
“If he picked that particular target, then there is [a] reason,” Defenbaugh said.