DENVER (TCN) — A 20-year-old man will spend six decades behind bars for his role in a fatal fire that killed a mother and her infant, as well as a couple and their young daughter in 2020.
Denver District Attorney Beth McCann announced July 2 that a judge sentenced Kevin Bui to 60 years in prison. He pleaded guilty in May to two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the deaths of five victims, identified as Djibril Diol, 29; Adja Diol, 23; Khadija Diol, 22 months; Hassan Diol, 25; and Hawa Baye, 7 months.
On August 5, 2020, Bui and two other defendants, Gavin Seymour and Dillon Siebert, reportedly ignited a fire in Green Valley Ranch. McCann called Bui “the ringleader of this deeply disturbing and utterly senseless crime.”
According to the original arrest affidavit, a resident of the house told detectives he and his family had been living there for two years. The deceased victims were all immigrants from Senegal and had recently moved in with the family from Columbus, Ohio.
In the early hours of Aug. 5, 2020, the resident told detectives he awoke to the fire alarm and tried to alert his family. He, his wife, and their daughter escaped the flames by jumping out of a window. They were transported to a hospital for injuries sustained during the fall.
According to the affidavit, officials found the five deceased victims inside the residence and identified them through DNA.
Arson investigators determined an accelerant was used to start the fire. Surveillance footage reportedly captured the three suspects in masks on the night of the incident.
Several months later, on Jan. 12, 2021, investigators reportedly searched the Snapchat accounts of Bui and Seymour. Bui allegedly believed people at the home had robbed him, so he sought revenge by setting fire to their house.
According to KUSA-TV, Bui used an app to track his stolen phone at the residence, but he targeted the wrong home.
Authorities initially arrested Bui, Seymour, and Siebert, who were all teenagers at the time, in January 2021.
Bui also faced a drug charge, but it was dismissed.
In a statement, McCann said, “Kevin Bui deserved exactly what he received today: the longest sentence of the three defendants in the case. Were it not for his actions, five completely innocent victims would still be alive today.”
Bui addressed the court and reportedly stated, “I take full responsibility. I don’t ask for forgiveness. I was an ignorant knucklehead blinded by rage.”
Seymour was sentenced in March to 40 years in prison, while Siebert was sentenced in February 2023 to seven years in the Youthful Offender System and three years in the Division of Youth Services.