Gavin Seymour pleaded guilty to a second-degree murder charge related to the 2020 fire that killed five family members.
DENVER — A teen who pleaded guilty earlier this year in connection with an intentionally set fire in Denver that killed five family members – including two small children – will be sentenced Friday afternoon.
In January, Gavin Seymour, who is now 19, pleaded guilty to an added count of second-degree murder. In exchange for the plea, 60 other counts against him were dismissed. Those charges included multiple counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault, and arson.
The fire was set at the home on North Truckee Street in the middle of the night on Aug. 5, 2020.
Djibril Diol, his 23-year-old wife Adja, and their 21-month-old daughter, Khadija were trapped inside and died. Djibril’s sister, Hassan, and her 6-month-old daughter, Hawa Beye were also killed. Three other people survived the fire by jumping from a second-story window, according to Denver Police.
Seymour, Kevin Bui, and Dillon Siebert were arrested in connection with the fire in January 2021. According to court documents, they targeted the home because they believed it belonged to someone who had stolen from Bui.
At the time, Seymour was 16. He faces between 16 and 40 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections when sentenced on March 15. The second-degree murder charge typically carries a maximum sentence of 48 years, but in exchange for the plea, the maximum was reduced to 40.
The youngest of the suspects, Siebert, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to second-degree murder and use of a weapon during a violent crime, which was a sentence enhancer.
He was sentenced as an adult to seven years in Youth Offender Services. He was also sentenced in juvenile court to serve three years in the Division of Youth Services. He will serve the time in the Youth Offender Services after his juvenile sentence is completed.
Siebert also faces a suspended sentence of 26 years in Youth Offender Services, which he would only have to serve if he violated the terms of his seven-year sentence.
Bui is next due in court on March 21.
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