Three teens charged in Denver house fire that killed family of five

Three teenagers were arrested in connection with a house fire in August that killed five members of a Colorado family.

Two 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old were taken into custody at their home early Wednesday, Denver police said in a press release. The names of the three boys were not released due to their age, but the suspects “know each other”, the statement said. They are not related.

The teens face a total of 28 counts, including first degree murder, felony attempt at first degree murder, first degree arson, first degree assault and first degree burglary.

Their arrests came more than five months after a fire on August 5 killed Djibril Diol, 29, and Adja Diol, 23, and their 2-year-old daughter, Khadija, as well as Djibril’s sister, Hassan Diol. , 25, and her baby. daughter, Hawa Baye, according to NBC News affiliate KUSA. Others escaped injured by jumping from the second floor.

The victims were members of the Senegalese community in Denver, prompting calls from local and national Muslim leaders asking police to investigate the fire as a hate crime.

Officials on Wednesday said that “investigators found no evidence that this crime was motivated by bias.” Due to the ongoing investigation, police have not disclosed a motive or any other details in the case, including how they identified the teens as suspects.

Days after the blaze, police released a surveillance photo of three people wearing hoodies and face masks who authorities suspected of starting the blaze. Rewards were offered for information leading to arrests. It was not clear on Thursday if anyone was showing up with the advice that led to the case breaking up.

“Our homicide team, along with our partners at the ATF, the US Secret Service and the Denver Fire Department, have worked tirelessly to identify those responsible for this horrific crime,” said the Chief of Police of Denver, Paul M. Pazen, in release.

At a press conference announcing the arrests, he added: “It was as complex an investigation as I have known in my entire career. They did an incredible job. I cannot give the details. This is very sensitive information because the success of the prosecution is essential in this case. “