Juveniles Under Investigation For Arson, Death Of Senegalese Family

Three potential suspects behind the death of Senegalese immigrants due to a house fire in August 2020 have been arrested by Denver Police. The three teenagers are currently under investigation and face nearly two dozen charges about the incident.

One of them was aged 16 while the two others were 15. Their names were not divulged since they were all minors and have not been formally charged. They were taken into custody at Jefferson County, Reuters reported.

It was on Aug. 5 2020 were a family of five Senegalese immigrants, including two children, died in a house fire. The incident drew media attention and the ethnic Senegalese community in Denver feared that the house was a target because they were Muslim immigrants from the West African nation.

The fire started at around 2:30 a.m. at the 5300 block of North Truckee Street in Green Valley Ranch. This claimed the lives of Djibril and Adja Diol as well as their two-year-old daughter named Khadija. Others also killed in the blaze were the husband’s sister, Hassan Diol as well as her daughter, Hawa Baye.

“This was one of the most heinous crimes I’ve ever seen or witnessed in our city, as mayor or otherwise," Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said at that time.

At the time, authorities released surveillance photos showing three masked individuals wearing hooded sweatshirts. They were the primary suspects who set the home ablaze. Police added that the suspects fled in a dark-colored four-door sedan afterward, 9 News reported.

Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen has yet to announce the motive for the alleged arson attack. He added that investigators lacked evidence of a bias-motivated crime.

Papa Dia, an immigrant from Senegal and a family friend was grateful but stated that this will not bring back to life the ones who perished in the fire.

“We are grateful but still in pain,” Dia said. “Arrests have been made, but we know it’s not going to bring these beautiful people back.”