Full Breakdown
Florida Teen Arrested for Allegedly Setting House on Fire in Attempted Murder Plot
1/12/2026, 8:21:06 AM
Incident Overview
On January 3, 2026, a 14-year-old boy, identified as Maikol Estrada Gomez, was arrested in Lehigh Acres, Florida, for allegedly setting fire to a home while a family of four was sleeping inside. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. when the Lee County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) and the Lehigh Acres Fire Department responded to reports of a residential fire on the 300 block of Paisley Avenue. Upon arrival, authorities discovered an open 5-gallon propane tank and a homemade Molotov cocktail near the front door.
Escape and Aftermath
The four occupants of the home managed to escape through a window as the fire blocked their front door. Fortunately, none of them sustained injuries. Namiry Enrique Alvarez, the mother of the targeted occupant, described the experience as traumatic, stating, “Even now, two days later, I still can’t sleep... you’re afraid it’s going to happen again.”
Motive and Charges
Gomez allegedly confessed to starting the fire with the intent to kill a specific occupant inside the home, who was his teenage friend. He has been charged with four counts of attempted felony murder, arson, occupied burglary, making a destructive device, and possession or use of a weapon. Following his arrest, he was released to the Department of Juvenile Justice for secure detention.
Official Statements
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno commented on the severity of the incident, stating, “This is a juvenile that’s committing a tremendous, horrifying act — trying to kill four people in a residence. It’s sad to me that things got this way, but I’m very thankful that the result is nobody’s hurt, and our suspect is off the streets and charged.”
Witness Accounts
Multiple witnesses reported seeing Gomez parked down the street before the fire and noted that he briefly interacted with the victims, asking them what had happened before fleeing the scene. This interaction raised suspicions and led to his identification as the suspect.
Conclusion
The incident has raised concerns about juvenile crime and safety in the community. While the immediate danger has been addressed with Gomez's arrest, the psychological impact on the victims remains a significant concern. The LCSO has released body-cam footage of the response to the fire, which includes visuals of the propane tank and the damage to the home.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Even now, two days later, I still can’t sleep, and neither can they because you relive everything that happened, and you’re afraid it’s going to happen again, which keeps you from sleeping,” — Namiry Enrique Alvarez, Mother of Targeted Occupant
- “This is a juvenile that’s committing a tremendous, horrifying act — trying to kill four people in a residence.” — Sheriff Carmine Marceno
