RICHMOND, Texas – Officials are investigating two possible arson attacks, Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls. He said he believes targeted an FBCSO employee.
At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Nehls said the first apparent arson attack happened on Dec. 23. He said the employee awoke in the middle of the night to discover the front of his house on fire. Investigators determined that two Molotov cocktails thrown at the home were the cause of the fire.
The second incident happened around 3 a.m. on Sunday at the same employee’s home.
The suspects exited a vehicle, threw a couple of Molotov cocktails at a vehicle parked in the employee’s driveway and within minutes, the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames, Nehls said.
During both incidents, individuals were inside the home targeted. No one was injured in both incidents.
“One of our employees was awoken to the front of his house that was on fire,” Nehls said. “Those Molotov cocktails hit the side of that house. If it would have entered that window, there’s a bedroom right on the other side window, and there was an individual sleeping in that bed.”
The Fort Bend Sheriff’s Office has released surveillance videos of Saturday night’s attack in progress.
“This is a very dangerous game people are playing,” Nehls said.
Nehls did not name the victim but said that the individual is an employee who’s worked with the FBCSO for years.
“Me personally, I believe this is targeted,” Nehls said.
Fort Bend County Fire Marshal Mark Flathouse is leading the investigation. Flathouse said they’re searching for a suspect or multiple suspects linked to the fires.
There is a vehicle of interest: a dark-colored vehicle F-250 with a silver construction rack loaded to the back, he said. Flathouse said they’re searching for a suspect or multiple suspects linked to the fires.
Sheriff Nehls says at a minimum, this is a case of arson. Given that the target of the attacks is a longtime investigator who has worked on homicides and robbery, the sheriff’s department is going back and reviewing past cases.
“Me personally, I believe this is targeted,” Nehls said.
“When we apprehend you, if we find out that this is related to a prior case that this individual investigated, that this employee investigated, this could be a federal hate crime,” Nehls said.
The sergeant and his family have been given special protection.
Neighbors also believe their friend has been singled out because of his job.
“We moved into this neighborhood within just a few months of each other,” said neighbor Laura Wall. “We’ve been friends and neighbors for 12 years...very close friends and it’s heartbreaking. Somebody’s out to get him.”
Residents with cameras on the street have turned their footage over to authorities.
“(They’re shaken) up, obviously,” said Wall. “It’s a scary situation, but they’re strong, great people but not too worried about it.”
There is a $10,000 reward offered for information leading to an arrest of the suspect or suspects in this case.