at a texas synagogue last weekend. when your life is threatened, you need to do whatever you can to get to safety. you need to do whatever you can to get out. reporter: after a gunman identified by authorities as 44-year-old british citizen akram interrupted the synagogue in the morning and took hostages. right before he revealed himself, i heard a click. and it could have been anything, and it turned out that it was his gun. reporter: citron-walker telling cbs, after hours of negotiating seemed to be failing, he took an opportunity to flee, first making sure the other hostages were with him and ready to run. then using a chair as a weapon. the exit wasn t too far away. i told them to go, i threw a chair at the gun, and i headed for the door and all three of us were able to get out without even a shot being fired. reporter: another hostage
president biden s behind-the-scenes dealings with lawmakers and put him position to speak directly to the american help, less than legislator in chief but not to the senate but president of the united states. peter alexander, chief correspondent, thank you. willie? let s turn to texas. we re learning new details about the synagogue hostage standoff that took place over the weekend there. the rabbi said he and two members of his congregation were able to escape only after he threw a chair at the gunman that had been holding them captive some 11 hours. nbc news correspondent morgan chesky has new details. reporter: overnight the congregation beth israel coming together and their rabbi hero speaking out. i love you all. while very few of us are doing okay now, we ll get through it. reporter: earlier citron-walker describing the terrifying moments at a standoff