NEW CANEY, Texas — Someone threw a Molotov cocktail through the window of a place of worship in Montgomery County and now investigators are asking for your help to find him.
It happened Sunday night at around 9:50 p.m. at the HuyenTrang Temple and meditation center along FM 1485 west of I-69 in New Caney. According to the sheriff’s office, after the suspect threw the Molotov cocktail through an open window, members of the temple who were there quickly put the fire out.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office released a still image from surveillance video of the man they’re looking for. That photo is above.
In their release, the sheriff's office said they know people are rattled by the crime, but asked anyone who knows anything about it to contact them.
“We understand that incidents like these can cause anxiety and concern among our residents,” they noted in their press release. “We urge everyone to remain calm and patient as the investigation progresses. We encourage anyone with information related to this incident to come forward and cooperate with the authorities. Your assistance can play a vital role in helping us bring justice to those affected.”
In the video, the arsonist was covered from head to toe and was carrying a backpack. He was seen handling the explosive, lighting it and throwing it through a front window of the converted residential home.
An indoor camera picked up what happened next. The device crashed into a meditation area and flames erupted. A visiting monk who was sleeping nearby raced over to fight the flames and another monk showed up with a fire extinguisher.
Socu Nguyen is a nun at the temple and said it's not the first time fire has been used to target their place of worship. Last year, a newly purchased mobile home caught fire. Investigators ruled it an accident, but Nguyen thinks the incidents are connected.
The Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office is working with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the sheriff’s office on this case. The FBI is also helping out with the investigation.
If you know anything about this case, you’re asked to call 936-760-5800, select option 3 and refer to case number 23S000489. To remain anonymous, contact Multi-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-STOP [7867].