Pyromaniac's Pattern: Bank Arson Charge Amidst Many

George Gates, 39, faces an arson charge following a fire on the roof of PlainsCapital Bank in the 2900 block of Kirby on July 22nd. Surveillance footage captured Gates on the roof minutes before the incident and leaving shortly after, leading investigators to suspect him.

Investigators are also examining Gates' potential connection to four other fires in the Upper Kirby area, as he was reportedly observed on the roofs of those buildings before they ignited. Detectives recognized Gates from a 2021 conviction for setting fire to his motel room.

Gates possesses an extensive criminal record dating back to 2011, including charges for robbery, terroristic threats, shoplifting, burglary, and assault. However, court records indicate that many of these charges were frequently dismissed or pleaded down. Notably, a terroristic threat charge in 2023 was dropped due to a prior conviction, and in 2024, he received a one-year sentence for theft and criminal mischief after pleading guilty to lesser charges in separate incidents involving shoplifting with a knife and a business burglary.

While a motive for the recent fires remains undetermined, PlainsCapital Bank had previously trespassed Gates in 2025. Another fire occurred on the bank's roof in 2024, though his involvement in that incident is not yet clear.