‘Pray for those who are there.’ Colleyville residents express shock over standoff

Laura Leeman was listening to speeches about Martin Luther King and doing household chores when she started getting messages from friends about the hostage situation unfolding at Congregation Beth Israel.

“I was listening to these amazing speakers and feeling very inspired when I saw messages coming across about Beth Israel.

“I went from this amazing place in my head, listening to amazing speakers to this is horrifying. Nobody wants another shooting,” Leeman said.

Leeman said she did not know Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker well, but she recalled taking part in interfaith events that he organized, such as the unity march in Colleyville.

“As a resident, it’s hard to find words; it’s very sad. I didn’t know what to do myself, so I’m just asking people to pray for those who are there,” she said.

“This man chose the synagogue at random; I had no idea we were the closest to the airport,” she said.

Another Colleyville resident, Beverly Mavis, said she has met the rabbi before.

“He is a really nice guy. We are wondering who we know that might be there,” she said.

She described how Colleyville is a small community where people tend to know one another.

“We live in an insulated community. We felt immune from this stuff,” Mavis said. “Now, that reality has been shattered. It has been surreal watching the video and seeing the streets where I know every turn. It really broke our little bubble having something like this happen.”

This story was originally published January 15, 2022 at 9:28 PM.

Elizabeth Campbell

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

817-390-7696

With my guide dog Freddie, I keep tabs on growth, economic development and other issues in Northeast Tarrant cities and other communities near Fort Worth. I’ve been a reporter at the Star-Telegram for 34 years.