Dramatic, deadly ending after man sets Kingwood home on fire during SWAT standoff

KINGWOOD, Texas – A person was found dead inside the rubble of a burned home following a SWAT standoff Friday involving a wanted man in Kingwood.

The situation started after Harris County SWAT officials were called to the scene for an arrest and search warrant in the 2000 block of Shadow Rock Drive.

Detectives said they had an arrest warrant for 46-year-old Christian Andrew Peck.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said it involved domestic violence, aggravated assault, impeding breath.

Court records show Peck was arrested in Harris County in 2022 for choking his wife. KPRC 2 also obtained a warrant out Montgomery County showing Peck violated a protective order in 2023. Records show it involved the same woman from the 2022 case, but she was identified as his ex-wife in the court documents.

Before the standoff, Sheriff Gonzalez said Peck made threats to hurt himself, a loved one and law enforcement.

Crisis negotiation officials said Peck refused to comply with authorities and barricaded himself in his house.

Peck then fired a weapon towards the officer and set his house on fire. He also reportedly told officers that he wanted to set the home on fire so “his wife couldn’t have it.”

“He made some comments of the individual that was in that he was willing to burn the house down because he didn’t want his, I guess spouse or former spouse to have the home,” said Sheriff Gonzalez.

Our Sky 2 Chopper was over the scene as the home burned.

KPRC 2 reporter Deven Clarke and photojournalist Gil Gredinger were at the scene. They reported seeing smoke and flames covering the home. They were asked to move “far back from the scene.”

Kingwood residents reported seeing smoke in the area near the standoff. One driver was also told to turn around by suspected SWAT officials.

Neighbors shared videos of SWAT giving Christian Peck commands to come outside.

“Christian, we want you to make a good decision here and come out with your hands up!”

Calls for Peck were heard throughout the neighborhood during an hours long SWAT standoff at this home off Shadow Rock drive.

“It looked like it’s something you watch on television,” said neighbor, Perla Barrera.

“After hours had passed, police told us to step back, and that’s when we heard four gunshots, pop, hop, hop. And then all of the sudden, the house went up in a blaze like crazy,” said Barrera.

The standoff came to a tragic end after the fire was out.

Crews found a person dead and a rifle.

Investigators believe Peck was the only person in the home during the standoff but the body that was recovered has not been identified.

Sheriff Gonzalez said Houston police is the agency investigating the case.

Schools impacted

The incident caused multiple schools in the area to go into a restricted mode. Bear Branch Elementary School, Woodland Hills Elementary School and Kingwood Middle School — all campuses near Woodland Hills Drive — were the impacted campuses.

Humble ISD officials confirmed to KPRC 2 that the schools were not under lockdown, but authorities secured a perimeter around the campuses, and students and staff were ordered to remain in the buildings. Access to the schools was also restricted.

Per Humble ISD: “Students are expected to be released from school at normal dismissal; however, students that live in the immediate area of the on-going active scene will be held for parental pick-up.”