Caught on Camera: Harris County Man, Phi Le Nguyen, Sets Neighbor’s Home on Fire and Threatens Residents with a Machete

A man from West Harris County, Texas, is facing multiple charges after allegedly setting his neighbors’ homes on fire while wielding a machete.

Phi Le Nguyen, 46, has been charged with two counts of arson and two counts of aggravated assault related to the incident.

Surveillance footage obtained by Eyewitness News shows Nguyen walking toward a home on Brighton Hollow Lane on Wednesday afternoon. 

According to the homeowners, he poured gasoline along the side of their house and ignited it, though the flames were quickly extinguished. 

Burn marks are still visible on parts of the brick wall and lawn.

Soon after, Nguyen is seen approaching another neighbor’s property. 

In the video, he’s smoking a cigarette, holding a gasoline can in one hand and a machete in the other. 

He pours gasoline on the driveway and steps out of view.

The homeowner reports that Nguyen then poured gasoline on her home and started another fire, which burned a section of her lawn.

Afterward, Nguyen retreats to the driveway, inspecting the scene while swinging the machete. 

Court documents indicate he also threatened the second homeowner and a Harris County sheriff’s deputy who responded to the scene.

He is currently in custody and his bail has been set at $150,000.