Cherokee County Resident Alleges Gunfire Report Was Ignored Before Arson Fire

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Texas (TXAN 24) — A Cherokee County resident is alleging that authorities failed to respond to a report of gunfire and arson threats before a subsequent fire left their stepmother facing significant hardship.

In a public statement, the resident said a man, who allegedly had a standoff near 1628 in Cherokee County, had previously approached them violently, fired shots in their direction, and threatened to burn the property down. The resident said their son was present during the encounter.

The Cherokee county resident claims they contacted county officials to report the gunfire and threat before the fire occurred and later provided video footage.

According to the account, the resident received no indication that the incident had been investigated. Nine days later, the resident said the fire chief stated that the incident had not been reported to the sheriff’s office.

The resident disputes that explanation, maintaining that they had contacted authorities and provided evidence before the fire.

The statement raises questions about whether the initial report was received, whether the video was forwarded to investigators, and what steps, if any, authorities took to investigate the alleged threats and gunfire.

The Cherokee County sheriff’s office, fire officials, and the individual identified will be contacted to be given an opportunity to respond.