A Colorado teenager, Kevin Bui, now 20, faces up to 60 years in jail for his role in a tragic fire that killed a family of five. The incident occurred in August 2020, when Bui, then 16, set fire to a home in a Denver neighborhood, mistakenly targeting it for revenge over his stolen iPhone. The fire led to the deaths of the Diol family, including two infant daughters, who hailed from Senegal.
Bui’s plan was based on tracking his stolen phone to the vicinity using the “Find My iPhone” app. His actions, carried out late at night, resulted in a devastating blaze that claimed the lives of Djibril Diol, 29, his wife Adja, 23, their 2-year-old daughter Khadija, Djibril’s sister Hassan Diol, 25, and her infant daughter Hawa Baye. The fire also caused serious injuries to three others who escaped by jumping from the second floor, breaking bones in the process.
CCTV footage captured Bui and his two accomplices, Dillon Siebert and Gavin Seymour, wearing face masks and hoodies as they set fire to the home. The suspects were identified after investigators obtained a search warrant to get Google to provide IP addresses that had searched the home’s address within 15 days of the fire. This led to their arrest nearly five months later.
Siebert, who was 14 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last year. He received a sentence of three years in juvenile detention followed by seven years in a state prison program for young inmates.
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Seymour, who is now 19, also pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder. In March, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Bui, who was prosecuted as an adult, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. This week, he was sentenced to up to 60 years in jail. His sentence reflects the severe impact of his actions and serves as a stark reminder of the tragic consequences of violence.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the senseless nature of the crime and the severe loss it caused. The Diol family was remembered for their contributions to the local community and their aspirations for a better life in the United States. Their deaths have left a profound void, underscoring the far-reaching effects of such heinous acts.
As Bui begins his long sentence, the community continues to mourn the Diol family, whose lives were abruptly and tragically cut short by an act of misplaced vengeance. The case highlights the critical importance of addressing youth violence and ensuring that justice is served for the victims and their families.
