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St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School
Numerous reports of a suspicious vehicle in the area of St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School and Temple Emanuel led to the arrest of a Brooklyn, New York man, according to a Beaumont Police Department (BPD) statement.
BPD reports several witnesses called the police complaining of a male in a black Toyota RAV4 SUV with New York State license plates, who would park across the street from the school and stay for hours, sometimes days, at a time.
BPD noted that, when approached, the driver was not cooperative with requests to move to a different location and, at times, was confrontational.
School officials contacted Police Chief Jimmy Singletary and expressed safety concerns for the students and the staff. Under Singletary’s direction, BPD officers conducted directed patrol in the area.
At 9 a.m. Jan. 29, Ahmed Abdalla Allam, 26, was stopped for a traffic violation while driving a black Toyota SUV in the 700 block of Archie Street by the school.
During Allam’s arrest, a search of his vehicle revealed suspected synthetic marijuana, an AR-15 style assault rifle and ammunition.
Allam was transported to Jefferson County Correctional Facility and booked in for possession of a controlled substance and driving with a fictitious plate. Additional federal charges were pending, BPD asserted, stating that Allam “poses no threat to our community at this time.”
Feb. 1, Eastern District of Texas U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston announced that Allam had been charged with federal violations in connection to his Beaumont roadtrip.
Allam was named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Feb. 1, charging him with possession of a firearm in a school zone. Allam appeared in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zack Hawthorn the same day and was ordered held pending a detention hearing.
According to information presented in court, on Jan. 29, Allam was found in possession of a multi-caliber rifle within 1,000 feet of St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica School in Beaumont. Allam also possessed a 30-round magazine and 150 rounds of ammunition.
“It is a federal violation to possess firearms or ammunition within 1,000 feet of a school zone,” Featherston’s office reports.
“The community of St. Anthony’s, including parents, teachers and administrator, are to be commended for remaining vigilant and reporting their suspicions,” Featherston remarked. “If you see something suspicious – say something. You may save a life.”
If convicted, Allam faces up to 5 years in federal prison. This case, part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, is being investigated by the Beaumont Police Department, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Port Arthur Fire Department and Montgomery County Fire Marshall.