A Midlothian homeowner was jolted awake by his daughter in the middle of the night last year to find someone had set his front door ablaze, and police now say they've arrested two men in connection with the fire. Bennie Leon McGriff Jr., 55, and Rashad Gilbert Harrington, 27, each face a first-degree felony charge of arson of a habitation after an investigation into the fire at a home in the 900 block of McAlpin Road.
According to the Midlothian Police Department, officers and fire crews responded to the residence around 1:05 a.m. on August 12, 2025, after the homeowner reported that his daughter had woken him up and alerted him the house was on fire. The homeowner was able to extinguish the flames himself before emergency personnel arrived, police said, and the residence was occupied at the time of the attack. As NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported at the time, the fire was captured on camera, showing the homeowner dousing the flames with water before first responders could even get there.
Six adults and two children were inside the home. Malia was awake when she saw the security lights and flames, then woke her father. Police say the suspect poured an ignitable liquid around the front of the residence before igniting it and fleeing on foot. Security camera footage reportedly showed a male suspect wearing a hooded sweatshirt and carrying what appeared to be a gasoline container.
Investigators Tracked a Truck in Connection With the Fire
Investigators tracked a white Ford F-450 pickup truck in connection with the fire.
McGriff transported Harrington to the home, investigators said. FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth reported that investigators used neighborhood surveillance, Flock cameras, vehicle telematics and cell phone records to track the truck back to McGriff. The outlet also reported that DNA evidence linked Harrington to the crime scene.
Felony Warrants and Arrests
Both men were arrested and charged with first-degree felony arson of a habitation.
Police did not release a motive for the arson or say whether the suspects knew the family living inside the home, the same report from Fox 4 noted.
Coverage of the case had initially noted only that police were pursuing several leads without releasing details to the public, before the announcement of the two arrests marked a significant break in the investigation.
