TOMBALL, TX – In a dramatic incident, a man employed at a solar company in a Houston suburb faces charges after allegedly constructing a crude blowtorch and attempting to assault a co-worker over a purported insult.
Authorities report that 28-year-old Khalid Elhindi, who worked at Imperial Star Solar in Tomball, confronted a fellow employee outside the workplace on Monday. According to a probable cause affidavit, Elhindi believed the co-worker made derogatory remarks about his mother, prompting him to seek out retribution.
The confrontation escalated when Elhindi approached the victim in the parking lot, inquiring about his identity. He then allegedly sprayed the man with gasoline from a Gatorade bottle. The situation grew more intense as Elhindi purportedly wielded a lighter and a can of Lysol, attempting to ignite the gasoline as a makeshift blowtorch.
The victim, trying to evade the attack, fell as Elhindi chased him across the lot. Seizing the moment, Elhindi reportedly straddled the man and aimed to ignite the device, though this effort proved unsuccessful.
During the confrontation, the suspect is accused of threatening harm over alleged insults directed at his mother in Sudan and then assaulting the victim with punches to the face.
Witnesses quickly intervened, stopping the altercation. The victim, who claims no prior acquaintance with Elhindi or any connection to Sudan, sustained multiple injuries, including a potentially fractured ankle, facial bruising, and eye irritation from gasoline exposure.
Law enforcement apprehended Elhindi on Tuesday, charging him with aggravated assault using a deadly weapon.
As of Wednesday morning, Elhindi was detained at Harris County Jail with a bond set at $50,000. Legal documents indicate that Elhindi, who has been with Imperial Star Solar for approximately two months, has been assigned a defense attorney.