5 Die in Apparent Arson (Aug 2020)
Special Reward of up to $50,000!
STORY BY VICENTE ARENAS/GREG NIETO - KDVR/KWGN (9:24 PM, AUGUST 07, 2020)
DENVER (KDVR) — A deadly house fire in Green Valley Ranch that claimed the lives of five people on Wednesday is being investigated as a homicide.
According to a Metro Denver Crime Stoppers bulletin, “The fire appeared to be deliberately set by unknown persons who fled the area.”
Investigators remain tight lipped about a vehicle description. Denver Police Department Division Chief Joe Montoya said, “because we don’t want individuals to get rid of evidence or destroy the car or hide the car.”
Montoya said in a news conference on Friday that investigators determined early on the fire was intentionally set and have been investigating it as a homicide.
A national Muslim Advocate group is asking police to investigate the killings as a possible hate crime. But Denver police are saying they’re not ready to do that just yet.
“We don’t want to get tunnel vision into a motive. There are some cases in the front end that its very evident that what the motive was for a crime this is not one of those cases,” Montoya said.
As of Friday, the reward for information stands at $14,000. It could increase with additional contributions.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is assisting in the arson investigation and working with DPD to determine the cause of the fire.
Montoya said beyond the money, he is sending a heartfelt plea for anyone with information to come forward and speak to authorities.
FOX31’s Vicente Arenas spoke to Djibril Diol’s father before the news conference on Friday.
“I lost my son. My good son. Son I love. A son that never give me a hard time,” Abdouaye Djibril said.
Djibril told us he could not imagine anyone who would want to hurt his son and his family.
He said his son had worked hard to attend Colorado State University and earn an engineering degree.
A small memorial is now growing at the home.
“At first, you don’t know what to do with this. It’s gut-wrenching,” said Rachel Chin, who brought flowers to the memorial. “You just never want that to be in your neighborhood. You never want that to be in your city. You don’t want to believe it’s possible.”
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers immediately: 720-913-7867.
Tips can also be submitted online.
To be eligible for the reward and to remain anonymous, tipsters must call the tip line or submit a tip online. Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a special reward of up to $50,000.00 in this case. The tip line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Special Rewards are valid up to 6 months after posting.