SAN ANTONIO – A person suspected of planning a mass shooting at The Barshop Jewish Community Center in San Antonio has been taken into custody, according to police and the FBI.
In a statement, the FBI said the suspect was located in another state. They were arrested based on statements they made while being questioned by authorities, San Antonio police said.
The FBI received information about the threat overnight and contacted San Antonio police.
The Barshop Jewish Community Center closed programs and services early on Thursday, and police dispatched additional officers to the campus, according to an email sent to parents. The campus is located at 12500 NW Military Hwy.
“Leaders in the Jewish community were notified and in partnership with SAPD, additional protocols were implemented to ensure the safety and security of the Jewish community here in San Antonio,” the FBI said. “Based on our investigation, we don’t believe there is an imminent threat targeting the Jewish community in the San Antonio area.”
In a news release, SAPD Chief William McManus said they “appreciate the community’s vigilance and continued cooperation.”
‘Frustration more than anything’
Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones reached out to Temple Beth El, which was already closed for Juneteenth, but had extra security from SAPD on Thursday.
Temple Beth El Executive Director Eric Ryniker told KSAT he received a call from the FBI at 8 a.m. “alerting me to the situation and letting me know that it was focusing on the JCC but the Jewish community entirely.”
Ryniker said Jewish centers have such robust security plans that quickly go into place because these situations are all too common.
“Honestly, frustration more than anything because of how almost routine it is. It’s terrible. It’s tragic. It’s not OK. And yet, this is just part of what we do. We have these protocols in place because we know things like this are going to happen,” Ryniker said.
That being said, he feels very supported in San Antonio. He and Senior Rabbi Mara Nathan received phone calls all day from leaders across San Antonio and beyond.
Jones reached out to Rabbi Nathan personally.
In a statement, Jones said: “I appreciate Chief McManus and SAPD working to quickly mitigate any potential increased risks to our Jewish community and we will continue to monitor this situation closely with City Manager Walsh. Anti-Semitism has no place in San Antonio, and we’ll take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of our Jewish neighbors.”
“It’s an opportunity for resilience that I hope gets across to everybody,” Ryniker said.
The JCC and Temple Beth El both confirmed they will be open Friday for business as usual.
“Because it’s important to not let this change who we are. Gathering as a community is the core function of who we are and we’re not going to let things like today stop us,” Ryniker said.
District 8 council member reacts
Ivalis Meza Gonzalez, representing District 8 on the San Antonio City Council, released a statement on Instagram to address the threat.
The statement in its entirety can be read below:
Last night, a threat targeting a Jewish facility in San Antonio was reported to the FBI and SAPD. As of this evening, June 19, 2025, authorities have determined there is no imminent threat and have identified a suspect located out of state. We will continue to monitor the situation.
I’ve been in contact with law enforcement and District 8 community members, and I want to be clear: acts of hate and antisemitism have no place in our city. I’m grateful to SAPD and the FBI for their swift action and ongoing commitment to public safety.
If you see something, say something. Report suspicious activity to SAPD at (210) 207-7273 or call 911 in an emergency.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
