HOUSTON – A 29-year-old man was arrested over the weekend on a terroristic threat warrant after allegedly making death threats at Houston’s Ismaili Center Houston last month.
Jacolby Poindexter, 29, was arrested Saturday, according to records, before posting a $30,000 bond on a terroristic threat charge Sunday.
In mid-April, Poindexter allegedly drove onto the property on Allen Parkway and spoke with a security guard, pretending to know him. Once on the property, he allegedly began making derogatory comments to a volunteer.
“Muhammad had a 9-year-old wife; he’s worse than Epstein,” Poindexter allegedly told the volunteer, adding, “This is our hood, and you guys are taking over.”
The volunteer told Poindexter to leave the property, but he allegedly refused, saying he wanted to visit, according to court records.
That’s when the rhetoric allegedly became more violent, with Poindexter repeatedly saying he would return and “kill all the Muslims and Jews.”
Another witness told police she heard Poindexter making statements regarding Muhammad and Islam. As he was leaving, she took photos of his car.
Police linked the vehicle to Poindexter during the investigation. According to records, he admitted to being at the Ismaili Center on the day of the incident and said he was “upset because (he) has been through some things when it comes to Islamic people.”
Poindexter added that he was just voicing his opinion and perhaps should not have expressed it that way, but he denied making any death threats.
As a direct result of the incident, court records indicate the Ismaili Center “heightened security measures on the property out of concern for potential future violence.”
A spokesperson for the Ismaili Center shared the following statement with KPRC 2 News:
“The Ismaili Center is a welcoming place for people of all walks of life to engage in dialogue and intellectual engagement. The Center, which includes 9 acres of gardens, fosters peace and harmony, reflecting values of inclusivity and commitment to improving quality of life for all,” the spokesperson said.