HOUSTON – A 26-year-old Houston man is accused of setting his friend’s house on fire.
Arturo Alvarado is charged with arson.
According to court documents, Alvarado set a home on fire in the 8800 block of Leander on October 13, 2011.
Investigators interviewed one of Alvarado’s friends, who is also a friend of the victim. That witness said on the night of the fire, Alvarado came to her house with two guns and a flare gun, saying he wanted to kill the victim.
The witness said Alvarado claimed the victim had tried to rob him the day before.
The witness said she attempted to calm Alvarado down and even physically tried to stop him, to no avail.
She told investigators that she followed Alvarado to the victim’s home, but after he kicked in the door, she left.
A few weeks later, the witness said Alvarado told her "he got Leo," and she took that to mean that he set his house on fire.
Another witness who lives by the scene of the fire said Alvarado came over before the fire started, looking for the victim.
That witness said when she told Alvarado the victim wasn’t there, Alvarado left. Shortly after, the witness said she heard a loud bang and saw the victim’s home on fire.
Charges were filed on January 24, 2012.
