In a shocking incident that has sparked outrage and calls for justice, a Texas woman has been charged with attempted murder in an alleged hate crime targeting a Palestinian Muslim child at a swimming pool in a residential complex.

According to officials, Elizabeth Wolf, 42, was arrested last month after she allegedly confronted the mother of a 3-year-old girl, inquiring about her nationality and making derogatory remarks about her non-American origin. The incident unfolded on May 19, when police responded to a report of a disturbance between two women at the pool in the Yulee Apartments complex.

Witnesses told police that Wolf, who appeared intoxicated, attempted to drown the young girl while engaging in a heated argument with her mother. The mother, a 32-year-old Muslim woman wearing a hijab, struggled to save her daughter as Wolf allegedly grabbed her by the head and forced her underwater. The child screamed for help and coughed up water after being rescued by her mother.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the attack, noting that the mother and her daughter were clearly identifiable as Muslim due to their religious attire. CAIR further alleged that Wolf snatched the mother’s hijab and used it to strike her as she tried to defend her daughter.

Both children were medically evaluated at the scene and found to be without life-threatening injuries. However, the 3-year-old girl has reportedly been traumatized by the incident, hiding whenever the apartment door opens in fear that Wolf will “dunk her head in the water again.”

Wolf, who was arrested while attempting to flee the scene on charges of public intoxication, now faces charges of attempted murder and child endangerment. Police have stated that there was no prior relationship between Wolf and the victim’s mother.

The CAIR Texas chapter has urged federal and state authorities to investigate the incident as a hate crime, and the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office is conducting an ongoing probe. Local politicians have expressed shock and outrage over the alleged racist attack.

“There is no room for hate in Yulee, District 92, or anywhere in our great state,” said Texas State Representative Salman Bhojani, a Democrat representing the area.

The incident has sparked widespread debate on social media and in the community, raising concerns about the rise of racial and religious intolerance in the United States. Many have called for stronger laws and tougher penalties to deter such hate crimes.

It remains unclear if Wolf has secured legal representation. The investigation is ongoing, and further charges may be filed pending the outcome of the investigation.