Texas Family of 6 Escapes House Fire Set by Hooded Arsonist in Midnight Attack

A Family's Narrow Escape from a Terrifying Arson Attack

A family of six in Texas narrowly escaped a life-threatening situation last Tuesday after an arsonist set their home on fire while they were asleep. The incident, captured on security footage, revealed how the family managed to survive a terrifying attack that could have had devastating consequences.

The family, consisting of Darryl Wilson, 52, and his wife Wahsheida, was hosting all their adult children during summer break when the attack occurred. Around 1 a.m., a hooded individual doused the porch of their two-story home in Midlothian with gasoline and set it ablaze. The family was asleep inside, unaware of the danger that was approaching.

Malia Rivera, the couple’s 21-year-old daughter, was still awake when she noticed motion-sensor lights flickering earlier in the night. She went downstairs to investigate and saw flames spreading quickly through the living room window. Realizing the severity of the situation, she immediately called 911 and rushed to wake her parents.

Darryl initially thought he was dreaming when Malia told him the house was on fire. He tried to dismiss the news until she physically pulled him out of bed. “I was shocked. I’m like, this can’t be real. Who would do this? Like, we keep to ourselves,” Wahsheida said, expressing her disbelief at the attack.

As the flames grew, Darryl attempted to use two cups of water to put out the fire before resorting to heavy-duty pots and pans. Meanwhile, Wahsheida checked the home’s security system and discovered chilling footage of a man in a sweatshirt pouring gasoline around the front of the house before setting it on fire and fleeing the scene.

Emergency crews arrived and eventually extinguished the blaze, ensuring that all family members were safe with no injuries. However, the trauma of the event has left the family deeply shaken.

Wahsheida expressed her anger and frustration toward the attacker, saying, “Your intentions when you came and threw gas on the house and lit that fire. Your intentions was to kill us. Like, you have no soul. You’re a heartless person.”

The family is particularly concerned about the safety of their 1-year-old granddaughter, who was asleep in the house during the attack. Mylah Rivera, the 25-year-old daughter, is especially worried about what could have happened if her younger sister hadn’t been awake to alert the family.

In the aftermath, the family has taken steps to protect themselves by sleeping in shifts, with someone always keeping watch. They also monitor the cameras and check the windows regularly for any signs of danger.

The family is planning to move as soon as possible, as they feel unsafe in their current home. Darryl shared his feelings of helplessness as a father, stating, “My kids don’t want to stay. My wife doesn’t want to stay. You know, they’re traumatized. It’s a hurting thing for someone to come to my home and do that. And I feel helpless as a father.”

The family hopes that the person responsible for the attack, who clearly knew there were children in the house, will be caught and brought to justice. They are seeking closure and peace, but the fear of another similar incident lingers over their lives.