Officials say five vehicles burned between Dec. 24 and Jan. 1 in neighborhoods near Fox Run Park.
FORT WORTH, Texas — A 17-year-old identified by authorities as Evan Banda was arrested early Thursday in connection with five vehicle arsons that rattled South Fort Worth over the holidays, police and fire leaders said at a Friday briefing.
The arrest closed a fast-moving investigation that began on Christmas Eve when a corner-parked car erupted before dawn. By New Year’s Day, four more vehicles had burned in nearby blocks, all at night and all entered the same way, investigators said. Officials described a pressure-filled week for patrol officers and fire crews, who added late-night patrols and canvasses while the city was celebrating. The case has drawn attention because the fires damaged family cars, threatened nearby homes, and left residents wondering who was targeting their streets until a suspect was named.
Chief fire investigator David Jones said the break came from a patchwork of neighborhood videos and stills, which allowed teams to trace a person on foot through a series of streets south of Interstate 20. The clips showed consistent clothing and a distinctive haircut, he said. Investigators mapped the incidents and noticed that four of the five cars were parked at corner lots, often a short run from an intersection. “There was a definitive pattern,” Jones said, adding that an ignitable liquid was used to start fires inside the passenger compartment after a window was broken. Officials said the homes hit were within about a mile and a half of the suspect’s address.
Police Chief Eddie Garcia said surveillance on the residence began late Wednesday. Shortly before dawn Thursday, officers requested SWAT to serve a warrant. “Officers breached the residence and immediately had the suspect in view,” Garcia said. The teen surrendered without incident. He was booked into the Tarrant County jail on five counts of arson, which officials said are second-degree felonies in Texas. Local records listed additional counts noted at booking. Prosecutors will determine which charges proceed after reviewing the case file and evidence recovered during the search.
No one was injured in the fires, but photos from the scenes show gutted interiors, scorched dashboards, and melted trim. In one case just after midnight on Dec. 28, a family reported hearing a loud bang, then seeing flames in a garage window’s reflection. “You could smell it the next morning,” said resident Michelle Barrera, whose son’s car was destroyed. Crews continued documenting damage on Friday, collecting debris and photographing burn patterns for the case record. Officials said that while the pattern was clear, they are still working to confirm the exact ignition source used in each vehicle.
The case now moves to prosecutors, who will review arrest affidavits and set court dates. Officials said they expect an initial appearance to be scheduled after the holiday weekend, followed by a formal filing of charges. Detectives plan to finish interviews and finalize lab submissions early next week. Neighborhood patrols will remain stepped up overnight through Sunday. The city’s fire and police departments said they will provide another update once damage estimates are complete and hearing dates are posted.
On Friday evening, Banda remained jailed while the district attorney’s office considered the case. Authorities said they had not determined a motive. Residents along the affected blocks said they were relieved but still uneasy, noting that some families now have no car to get to work or school. “It was a long week,” said one neighbor who shared video with investigators. “We kept the lights on and waited for sirens.”
Author note: Last updated January 11, 2026.