In a tragic turn of events, 20-year-old Kevin Huy Bui pleaded guilty to second-degree murder charges for his involvement in a house fire that claimed the lives of five Senegalese family members in 2020. Desperation to recover his stolen iPhone led Bui down a dangerous path, as he mistakenly tracked it to the victims’ home and set it ablaze, unaware of his error until it was too late.
The tragic incident occurred on August 5, 2020, and took the lives of Djibril Diol, 29; Adja Diol, 23; their 22-month-old daughter, Khadija Diol; Hassan Diol, 25; and her 7-month-old daughter, Hawa Beye. Three other occupants escaped the inferno through an upstairs window but sustained injuries.
Surveillance footage captured the actions of Bui and his co-defendants, Dillon Siebert and Gavin Seymour, who were 14 and 16 years old at the time of the offense. All three were masked and wore hoodies, with at least one carrying a gasoline can. Bui’s intentions to retaliate for his alleged robbery were evident in social media conversations retrieved by investigators.
On July 15, 2020, Bui informed his friends about the robbery, and on August 1, he messaged Seymour on Snapchat, expressing a willingness to escalate the situation. Authorities believe that this message played a crucial role in planning the arson attack.
Bui and his co-defendants were charged as adults, and as part of a plea deal, Bui faces a potential 60-year prison sentence. Siebert, who pleaded guilty in 2022, is serving a three-year sentence in a juvenile facility followed by seven years in prison. Seymour pleaded guilty in January and received a 40-year prison sentence.
This tragic case highlights the dangers of misplaced revenge and the importance of responsible technology use. It also raises concerns about the potential consequences of mistakes made in the digital age, as Bui’s reliance on the ‘Find My iPhone’ app ultimately led to a devastating outcome.
