DENVER — One of three teenagers charged with starting a Denver house fire that killed five people — apparently out of revenge for a stolen cellphone that was mistakenly traced to the home — was sentenced Friday to 40 years in prison.
Gavin Seymour, 19, pleaded guilty in January to one count of second-degree murder for his role in the Aug. 5, 2020, fire that killed five members of a Senegalese family. Denver District Court Judge Karen Brody sentenced him to the maximum possible term he faced, The Denver Post reported.
“This is a tragedy that is, I’m sure for everyone involved, incomprehensible,” Brody said. “There was a loss of the most innocent of lives.”
Seymour and two other teenagers — Kevin Bui and Dillon Siebert — were charged with setting the fire in the middle of the night, killing family members Djibril Diol, 29; Adja Diol, 23; Khadija Diol, 1; Hassan Diol, 25; and 6-month-old Hawa Baye. Three other people escaped by jumping from the second floor of the home.
Siebert, who was 14 at the time of the fire, was 17 when he was sentenced in February 2023 to three years in juvenile detention and seven years in a state prison program for young inmates. Seymour and Bui, who is accused of being the ringleader, were both 16 at the time of the fire. The case against Bui, who faces multiple counts of first-degree murder, is still pending.
The investigation of the fire dragged on for months without any leads. Fears that the blaze had been a hate crime led many Senegalese immigrants to install security cameras at their homes in case they could also be targeted.
“Even if you kill five sheep or goats, you should get a maximum sentence,” relative Hanady Diol told the court Friday through a translator over the phone from Senegal. “This person here, they are talking about 40 or 30 years. That just means there is no justice there. There is no judging that the people who died are human beings.”
The boys were identified as suspects after police obtained a search warrant asking Google for which accounts had searched the home’s address within 15 days of the fire.
Bui told investigators he had been robbed the month before the fire while trying to buy a gun and had traced his iPhone to the home using an app, court records said. He admitted setting the fire, only to find out the next day through news coverage that the victims were not the people who robbed him, according to police.
Attorneys for Seymour and Bui challenged the search warrant, but the Colorado Supreme Court upheld the search for this case. Bui is next due in court on March 21, according to The Denver Post.
Seymour apologized in court Friday for his role in the fire.
“If I could go back and prevent all this I would,” he said. “There is not a moment that goes by that I don’t feel extreme guilt and remorse for my actions. … I want to say how truly sorry I am to the family members and community for all the harm I’ve done.”
A tragic incident in Denver has left a community in shock and mourning after a teenage boy was sentenced to 40 years in prison for setting a house fire that resulted in the deaths of five Senegalese individuals. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, has raised questions about the motivations behind the crime and the impact it has had on the victims’ families.
According to reports, the teenage boy, whose name has not been released due to his age, intentionally set fire to a home where a group of Senegalese immigrants were living. The fire quickly spread, trapping the residents inside and resulting in the deaths of five individuals, including two children. The victims were identified as members of the Senegalese community who had come to Denver seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
The motive behind the crime remains unclear, but authorities have stated that the teenage boy had a history of behavioral issues and had been involved in previous incidents of arson. The severity of the crime, coupled with the loss of life, led to a lengthy trial that ultimately resulted in the boy being sentenced to 40 years in prison for his actions.
The sentencing has sparked a debate about the justice system’s approach to juvenile offenders and the need for rehabilitation and support for at-risk youth. Many have argued that the boy’s age and troubled past should have been taken into consideration during sentencing, while others believe that the severity of the crime warranted a harsh punishment.
The tragedy has also highlighted the importance of community support and unity in times of crisis. Members of the Senegalese community have come together to mourn the loss of their loved ones and support each other during this difficult time. Local organizations and religious groups have also offered their assistance to help the families affected by the fire rebuild their lives.
As the community continues to grapple with the aftermath of this senseless act of violence, there is a renewed focus on addressing the root causes of such crimes and providing resources and support for at-risk youth. By coming together as a community and working towards positive change, we can honor the memory of those who lost their lives in this tragic event and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
