Samurai sword-wielding arson suspect accused of setting fire to 2 West Harris County homes now faces charges

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A woman said the sword-wielding man accused of setting her West Harris County home on fire remained defiant when she confronted him.

Jackie Gray said her cameras detected movement around 4pm on Wednesday, prompting her to go outside to investigate.

Security cameras show Gray’s neighbor, Phi Le Nguyen, walking toward her home with a gas can in hand.

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Gray said he found the canister leaning against the side of his house, producing smoke.

“I just saw you and I have cameras,” Gray was heard telling the suspect.

“Yes? What are you going to do?” he replied.

Before heading to Gray’s house, the video shows Nguyen walking towards his neighbor’s house with a gas can.

That house was also set on fire.

Both Gray and his neighbor were able to put out the fire, but security cameras show Nguyen returning to Gray’s home and pouring gasoline on the driveway to start a second fire.

“He actually started dumping it under my truck. Then he started dumping it all in the driveway and everything else,” Gray said.

When he’s done, he can be seen standing at the bottom of Gray’s driveway. At one point he swung his sword and Gray said he almost fell victim to it.

“He was coming with a sword in his hand, like he was coming to attack me,” he said.

When Harris County sheriff’s deputies arrived, they reported being greeted with the same hospitality.

Nguyen was charged with aggravated assault for threatening both Gray and a deputy.

“He still lunges at police officers as he goes into his garage, and they eventually start harassing him,” Gray said.

Nguyen’s bond has been raised to $200,000 since Friday. He will appear in court Monday morning.

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