Euless, Texas — President Joe Biden voiced his alarm Monday regarding an unsettling incident that occurred at a local pool in Texas, where a woman allegedly tried to drown a 3-year-old Palestinian-American girl. The president’s comments highlighted the gravity of the assault and his empathy for the victim’s family.
“I am deeply disturbed by the reports of an attempted drowning of a 14-year-old Palestinian-American at a neighborhood pool,” Biden mentioned on social media, “No child should ever be subjected to a violent attack, and my heart goes out to the family.”
The incident came to light when Elizabeth Wolf, 42, was charged with attempted capital murder among other counts, including injury to a child and public intoxication. Wolf’s arrest came after authorities were alerted to the altercation at an apartment complex swimming pool on May 19.
Initial investigations by local police revealed that Wolf confronted a 32-year-old woman, identifiable by her hijab, by inquiring aggressively about her country of origin. The confrontation escalated rapidly when Wolf attempted to grab the woman’s 6-year-old son, who fortunately escaped.
According to police reports, as the mother attended to her son, Wolf seized the opportunity to grab the younger child, a 3-year-old daughter, and forcibly submerged her in the water. The mother managed to rescue her daughter, who emerged from the water in distress, coughing up water and crying for help.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that Wolf appeared intoxicated and made several racially charged remarks towards the mother and her children. This alarming behavior has prompted concerns about the underlying motives of the attack.
The victim’s mother, known only as Mrs. H, expressed her fear and the psychological impact the event has had on her family. Originally from Palestine, Mrs. H disclosed to local media how the incident had instilled a pervasive fear in her children, particularly the young girl who now fears opening the door at the sight of strangers.
Further complicating the disturbing incident, reports from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) suggested Wolf not only attacked the child but also assaulted the mother with her own headscarf during the rescue attempt.
In response to the grave nature of the assault, the Austin, Texas chapter of CAIR has urged state and federal authorities to investigate this case as a potential hate crime. Shaimaa Zayan, CAFA Austin operations manager, condemned the attack, characterizing it as a new level of bigotry asserting dominion over others based on religion and ethnicity.
Authorities are currently keeping Wolf in custody as the investigation continues, focusing on both the attempted drowning and the potential hate crime implications of Wolf’s actions toward the Muslim family.
This incident has stirred a larger conversation about the safety of minority communities in public spaces and the need for greater awareness and stricter laws to combat racially motivated violence. As the community and nation watch closely, many await decisive action that addresses the root causes of such hatred and secures justice for the victims.