
Khalid Elhindi (KHOU/YouTube).
A man from Texas reportedly attempted to assault a co-worker by creating a makeshift blowtorch using a Lysol can, lighter, and a Gatorade bottle filled with gasoline. The incident occurred after he suspected that the co-worker had made a disrespectful comment about his mother.
The alleged suspect, identified as 28-year-old Khalid Elhindi, and the victim were both employees at Imperial Star Solar in Tomball, which is a suburb of Houston. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit, the victim was approached by Elhindi in the parking lot on Monday. Elhindi asked for the victim’s name before proceeding to spray gasoline on him using the Gatorade bottle. Subsequently, Elhindi attempted to ignite the flammable liquid with the lighter and Lysol spray can, creating a blowtorch-like device, while chasing the victim across the parking lot.
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After the victim fell, Elhindi straddled him and tried to spark the homemade blowtorch but it wouldn’t light, the affidavit said. The suspect allegedly said he was going to “mess up” the victim over comments made about his mother in Sudan before repeatedly punching him in the face.
Witnesses broke up the fight. The victim told cops he did not know the defendant or his mother, and he has never been to Sudan. He suffered a possible fracture to his left ankle, bruising to both eyes and his eyes were irritated from the gasoline.
Cops arrested Elhindi on Tuesday on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He remained at the Harris County Jail on a $50,000 bond as of Wednesday morning. Elhindi, who reportedly said he had worked at Imperial Star Solar for about two months, was appointed a defense attorney, according to court records.
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