Deputies say the teen placed a five-gallon propane cylinder and a fuel-filled bottle outside the front door before dawn.
LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — A family of four climbed out a window to safety after flames sparked by a propane tank and a gasoline-filled bottle scorched their front door around 6 a.m. Saturday on Paisley Avenue, and a 14-year-old acquaintance is now under arrest, investigators said.
The sheriff’s office says the incident is being treated as an attempted homicide involving a juvenile suspect and a targeted household. Detectives identified a teen who they say knew someone in the home and intended to kill the occupants. The suspect faces arson and four counts of attempted murder. Firefighters contained the blaze to the entry area, and no injuries were reported. Authorities seized the propane cylinder and a Molotov-style device as evidence while fire investigators conduct origin-and-cause work alongside criminal detectives.
Calls to 911 brought deputies and Lehigh Acres firefighters to the 300 block of Paisley Avenue just after sunrise on Jan. 3. Smoke poured from the doorway when crews arrived. Inside, two adults and two juveniles were awake and moving toward a side room; they exited through a window as smoke thickened. Minutes later, firefighters pulled hoses to the front yard and ventilated the house. One resident, who is pregnant, told reporters the air inside quickly became unbreathable and that the family “didn’t know what was outside.” The family said their five pets also made it out.
Investigators said an open five-gallon propane cylinder was positioned near the threshold next to a glass bottle containing gasoline and a wick. Witnesses told deputies they saw a teenager park down the block in the minutes before the fire and briefly speak with the residents after the flames began. Detectives later arrested Maikol Estrada Gomez, 14, at a nearby address on Petite Circle. Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a recorded statement that the suspect admitted he intended to harm the people inside. Officials said the victims included two juveniles and two adults who declined hospital transport. The amount of damage remains under review, and the sheriff’s office asked nearby homeowners for any exterior video that could show a vehicle approaching.
The incident remains under active investigation. Detectives are processing the incendiary device and the cylinder for fingerprints and fuel residue, and they are mapping scorch patterns around the frame to determine how the ignition advanced. Authorities described the motive as a dispute involving a person inside the home rather than a random act. The teen’s case will begin in juvenile court while prosecutors evaluate whether to seek adult charges; any transfer decision would weigh the severity of the allegations, the defendant’s age and prior history, and the presence of premeditation.
Under Florida procedure, a first appearance typically occurs within 24 hours of arrest, followed by a detention hearing. Prosecutors are expected to announce formal charges after reviewing the arrest report, witness statements and any video evidence recovered from the block. Fire officials will release a written cause-and-origin report when lab results on fuel samples are complete. Insurance adjusters are also expected to assess the home to establish a repair estimate, which could lead to additional counts for property damage.
By late morning Saturday, crime scene tape edged the lawn and the charred door frame remained propped open as investigators photographed the entry. Neighbors described hearing sirens cutting through the quiet street and seeing smoke hanging low across the cul-de-sac. One neighbor said she noticed a car idling a few houses down shortly before fire engines arrived. The family planned to stay with relatives while repairs are made, they said.
As of Tuesday, deputies said the family is safe and detectives are finishing reports. Officials expect to provide another update later this week after lab analysis returns and prosecutors make an initial filing decision.
Author note: Last updated January 6, 2026.