TOMBALL, TX – A Texas man is accused of attempting to set a co-worker on fire with a makeshift blowtorch constructed from a Lysol can and a Gatorade bottle filled with gasoline. This alarming incident unfolded after the suspect, Khalid Elhindi, believed the victim had insulted his mother.

The 28-year-old suspect and the victim were colleagues at Imperial Star Solar in the Houston suburb of Tomball, although they worked on separate assembly lines. On Monday, Elhindi allegedly confronted his co-worker in the company parking lot. According to court documents, Elhindi sprayed the victim with gasoline from the Gatorade bottle and threatened to ignite it using a lighter and the Lysol can as a homemade blowtorch.

Court documents reveal that as Elhindi pursued the victim across the parking lot, he attempted to ignite the improvised weapon. The victim eventually fell, at which point Elhindi allegedly straddled him, still trying unsuccessfully to spark the flammable mixture while threatening further harm over remarks made about his mother in Sudan.

Bystanders intervened, ending the altercation. The victim, who insists he neither knows Elhindi nor his mother, sustained significant injuries, including a potential fracture to his left ankle and bruising around his eyes. His eyes were also irritated due to the gasoline exposure.

Law enforcement detained Elhindi the following day, charging him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As of Wednesday, he remained in custody at Harris County Jail on a $50,000 bond. Court records indicate Elhindi has been working at the company for approximately two months and has been assigned a defense attorney.

This situation underscores the rapid escalation from verbal to physical conflict and highlights the potential dangers of improvised weapons. The security measures at workplaces will likely undergo scrutiny in the aftermath of such events, especially to prevent similar attacks.

Elhindi’s alleged actions emphasize the grave seriousness with which workplace violence is treated by authorities, reflecting on both the criminal implications and the broader impacts on employee safety and workplace environment.

In events like these, ensuring clear communication channels and mental health support within workplaces can be crucial in preempting violent incidents. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the essential need for vigilance regarding workplace safety and conflict resolution.

The case remains under investigation as the justice system begins to address the serious charges against Elhindi.