Angelina Han Hicks, 18, is jailed on a $10 million bond as federal and local investigators examine an alleged plot targeting a Houston Jewish campus.
LEXINGTON, NC — The father of an 18-year-old North Carolina woman accused in an alleged plot to attack a Houston synagogue said Thursday that the charges are exaggerated and that his daughter was involved in online fantasy play, not a real plan.
Angelina Han Hicks, of Lexington, was arrested Wednesday after investigators said they found evidence that she and others were planning a mass-casualty attack at Congregation Beth Israel in Houston. The case has drawn attention because court records describe an alleged plan to drive through the congregation and “kill as many Jews as possible.” Authorities said the investigation moved quickly after a tip reached law enforcement in North Carolina, leading to FBI involvement in multiple states.
Dannie Hicks, the teen’s father, pushed back in an interview, calling the accusations “ludicrous” and saying his daughter had been playing what he described as a fantasy game. He said Hicks does not drive, does not own a car and has no experience with guns. He also said she is on strong medication and functions younger than her age. “How’s she gonna get to Texas?” he said. Her mother also said Hicks had not been away from the family for long periods except under adult supervision.
North Carolina court records accuse Hicks of conspiring with two people identified only as Angel and Teegan to carry out violence against members of Congregation Beth Israel. Prosecutors said the alleged plan involved an assault with a deadly weapon by driving through the synagogue congregation. The date listed in court records was April 21, 2028, but Davidson County prosecutors and federal officials said investigators still treated the threat as serious and potentially urgent. The two people named in North Carolina records had not been publicly identified in those documents.
The FBI’s Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force began investigating Tuesday after receiving information that Hicks was believed to be targeting members of the Jewish community for violence. Investigators and the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office searched her home in Lexington, where authorities said they found evidence tied to a planned attack in Houston. Hicks was arrested the next day on felony conspiracy charges. Her bond was set at $10 million, with a judge citing concern that alleged co-conspirators remained unaccounted for and that contact with others could pose a risk.
Houston police later said a 16-year-old from the Houston area had been arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder in connection with a threat directed toward Jewish institutions. Officials did not publicly release the juvenile’s name because of the person’s age. The FBI said the Houston and Charlotte field offices worked with local agencies, including Houston police and Davidson County authorities. Investigators have not publicly explained how the North Carolina case and the Harris County juvenile case connect, beyond saying the inquiry remains active.
Congregation Beth Israel, located on North Braeswood Boulevard in Houston, is one of Texas’ oldest Jewish congregations and shares a campus with The Shlenker School, a Jewish day school. The campus closed temporarily after police alerted leaders to the threat. Jewish community officials said the closure was made out of caution. The allegation came during a period of heightened concern about antisemitic threats and attacks against Jewish institutions in the United States, including houses of worship and schools that have increased security in recent years.
Hicks faces felony conspiracy to commit murder and felony conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon to kill or inflict serious injury. Her attorney has said the case is in an early stage and that her age could be a factor in the defense. The lawyer also said experts may be asked to review investigative and forensic issues. Hicks made an initial court appearance in Davidson County District Court after her arrest. Her next hearing is listed for May 13, though some local records also referenced May 12.
The father’s comments added a sharp contrast to the way prosecutors described the alleged plot. He said the family is struggling with the sudden attention and the size of the bond. He and Hicks’ mother said they know little about technology, but they described their daughter as someone who spent time on gaming platforms. Authorities have not publicly released the full set of messages, records or devices they reviewed. They also have not announced a motive beyond the antisemitic language described in court filings.
The case remained under investigation Friday, with Hicks held in the Davidson County Detention Center and a Houston-area juvenile facing a separate charge in Texas. The next major step is Hicks’ upcoming district court hearing in May, when prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to address the charges and bond status.
Author note: Last updated April 24, 2026.