Investigators say a 17-year-old targeted vehicles at night in three South Fort Worth neighborhoods.
FORT WORTH, Texas — A 17-year-old was arrested this week after a series of vehicle fires that began on Christmas Eve and continued through New Year’s Day in South Fort Worth, police and fire officials said Friday. The teen was taken into custody at his home early Thursday morning.
Authorities said five cars were set on fire within about a one-week span, shaking several neighborhoods south of Interstate 20. Investigators described a consistent pattern: the arsonist arrived late at night, broke a window, and ignited the interior of street-parked cars before running off. The arrest followed days of coordinated work by Fort Worth police and the Fort Worth Fire Department, who reviewed home surveillance videos and canvassed blocks near Fox Run Park. The case matters now because the fires endangered residents over the holidays, destroyed transportation for families, and prompted an intensive, joint response that culminated in an arrest and multiple felony charges.
The first blaze was reported around 1:45 a.m. on Dec. 24 when a resident awoke to explosions from her vehicle, which had been parked at a street corner near her home. Over the next several nights, four more vehicles burned in nearby neighborhoods, typically between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., officials said. “Our community was in fear for a while,” Police Chief Eddie Garcia said, noting that officers and fire investigators worked around the clock after the second incident suggested a serial pattern. A victim recalled seeing flames leap from shattered windows and hearing popping sounds as the car’s interior burned. “I thought it was going to touch somebody’s house,” she said.
Investigators said they pieced together the route of the suspect using multiple doorbell and security cameras, tracking clothing, shoes, and hairstyle across different clips. The homes were clustered within roughly a mile and a half of the teen’s residence, according to officials familiar with the mapping. Chief fire investigator David Jones said all but one of the vehicles were corner-lot, curb-parked cars that were broken into in the same way. He said an ignitable liquid was used inside each car, producing fast-moving fires that left interiors gutted. Officials identified the teen as Evan Banda, 17, and said he declined to explain his motive. No injuries were reported. Damage totals were still being calculated Friday.
Records show Banda faces five counts of arson, a second-degree felony under Texas law. Local officials said he is expected to be prosecuted as an adult. At a joint briefing Friday, leaders from both departments detailed the overnight surveillance that began late Wednesday and the SWAT-assisted warrant service early Thursday, when officers breached the residence and ordered the suspect out without incident. Officials said additional charges were listed in initial jail records, and that the Tarrant County district attorney’s office will determine final filings after reviewing the case.
Neighbors near Fox Run Park said they slept lightly for a week, listening for pops and sirens. “You could smell it in the morning,” said Michelle Barrera, whose family’s vehicle burned just after midnight on Dec. 28. “My husband saw the glow through the window.” On Friday afternoon, crews were still collecting debris and photographing charred seats and melted dashboards for evidence. Police emphasized that the surveillance trail was built block by block with residents’ clips. “We will always work together to stop fear and bring suspects to justice,” Garcia said.
As of Friday evening, the teen remained in the Tarrant County jail while investigators finalized offense reports and consulted with prosecutors. Officials said they plan to release updated arrest and offense summaries early next week, including confirmed damage estimates and any added counts stemming from the search of the home. No court date had been set. The departments said patrols will continue overnight in the affected neighborhoods through the weekend.
Author note: Last updated January 11, 2026.