SAN ANTONIO, TX – Authorities arrested a 47-year-old man after he allegedly set multiple fires outside a local bar and made threats against its owner following his girlfriend’s termination from the business.
Kevin Arthur Williams was taken into custody on Tuesday and now faces charges of arson and making terroristic threats. The charges stem from a series of escalating incidents centered around Chillie Willie’s Mustang Lounge, a popular San Antonio establishment where Williams’ girlfriend had recently lost her job.
According to police records, tensions flared after Williams and his girlfriend ran into Chillie Willie’s owners at a separate bar. During that interaction, an argument erupted, during which Williams is accused of threatening to kill the bar owner and vowing to burn down the bar in retaliation for his girlfriend’s dismissal.
In the days leading up to the fire, Williams allegedly sent a string of menacing text messages to a Chillie Willie’s employee. The messages included explicit threats against the owner, with Williams reportedly saying, “Kill me or I kill her or she apologizes on every website,” and, “Isn’t it disappointing to know you have less than three hours to kill your homeboy? Or I kill [name redacted] LOL,” police said. He also implied that he expected to face serious consequences for his behavior, remarking in a text that he would either go to prison for a long time or end up in a mental facility.
The conflict escalated further when Williams encountered the bar owners again at a later date. Witnesses told police they heard Williams shout repeated death threats, allegedly screaming at the bar owner dozens of times and attempting to physically confront them. Bystanders managed to intervene before the altercation turned violent.
On July 7, the situation reached a boiling point. Williams allegedly drove to Chillie Willie’s Mustang Lounge, where a witness saw him pour gasoline on the lawn and ignite a fire. Bystanders acted quickly to extinguish the blaze, but Williams is accused of then starting a second fire near the establishment’s front porch. Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows Williams in the act of lighting one of the fires.
The combined fires caused significant damage, resulting in an estimated $25,000 in property loss and forcing the business to temporarily close its doors.
Kevin Williams now faces multiple felony charges, including arson and making terroristic threats with intent to cause fear of imminent serious bodily injury. He is being held in the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, with bond set at $130,000. His next court hearing is scheduled for October 20.