It was a case of vandalism at a mosque that launched a federal civil rights investigation.

In August 2024, a phrase was spray-painted on the side of the Baitus Samee Mosque in Greenspoint in north Houston. Just days later, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office called FBI Houston, elevating the crime to the federal level. Shortly after, FBI Houston civil rights special investigator Theo Williams was assigned the case.

“Once we got there and talked to the leaders of the mosque and members of the mosque, we realized how serious that vandalism was to them,” Williams said.

“False prophet” was the phrase the FBI Houston said was spray-painted in Urdu on the side of the mosque. Williams said that phrase is used to mark some persecuted Muslim sects as targets for violence.

“It’s very serious. It’s our right here in the United States to practice freely and worship whoever you want to worship,” Williams said.

Williams started knocking on doors, responding to emails, and following up on tips, but said each thread he pulled was a dead end. In December 2024, the agency decided it was time to release some evidence in hopes that the public could help. Investigators released photos of a man they believe is responsible for the crime and a silver car he may have driven.

“We got the photos and videos, like you said, pretty early on, and we didn’t have a lot of leads, but we can’t do it by ourselves, so that’s why we are here today to solicit the public to come forward and help bring this person to justice,” Williams said.

But a year later, the person still hasn’t been identified.

Williams said they have reason to believe this man is not only in Houston but may be local to the community where the crime happened.

“We have reason to believe he is still here locally in the Houston area, possibly in that localized area around the mosque. That mosque is small. It’s a small sect of Islam, so it would take some intentional searching to find it. We believe the suspect is local and possibly localized in that area,” Williams said.

Williams believes someone knows something that could crack this case wide open.

If you know this man or have information that may help law enforcement, you’re encouraged to contact FBI Houston.

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