Boys Aged 12, 14 Arrested For Starting Deadly Fire That Killed 2, Injured 10

Two juvenile boys were arrested for intentionally starting a fire in an apartment that killed a mother and her 10-year-old daughter, and injured 10 others in Colorado.

The boys, aged 12 and 14, allegedly started the fire after getting kicked out of one of the units at the Tiffany Square apartments in Lakewood, a Jefferson County court revealed Monday, according to 9NEWS.

Prosecutors said the boys may have used Molotov cocktails to start the blaze that damaged at least 14 units. Residents of all 32 units in the building were displaced following the fire.

The unidentified boys were living in unit 50 and were thrown out on Oct. 31. They reportedly started a fire near the building and were seen running away by witnesses. Firefighters helped evacuate residents after 911 calls at around 4:15 a.m. reported the fire.

Kathleen Payton, 31, and her 10-year-old daughter Jazmine Payton-Aguayo lost their lives while 10 others, including a firefighter, required medical attention for varying injuries or smoke inhalation. Seven of the injured were treated at the scene while the remaining were taken to the hospital.

The family of the deceased said they were grateful that arrests were made in connection with the incident but have mixed feelings about the age of the two accused.

"It's just very emotional because it doesn't bring back Katie and Jazzie but I'm glad to know that the Lakewood police were diligent in looking for these two," Kathleen's aunt Rochelle Vigil Valdez told the Denver Gazette.

Residents in the building said it was the smell of smoke or the sound of someone banging on their door that alerted them about the fire. Some residents also had to jump out of their windows to escape the blaze.

The Lakewood Police Department said on Nov. 1 that they knew two male juveniles were involved in starting the fire.

"As far as types of accelerant, the way they did it, we're still looking into that," Lakewood Police Department Spokesperson John Romero said on Nov. 1, as quoted by Denver7. "But we are confident that we know who the two are that started this fire and killed that mother and daughter."

The arrested boys, who were taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree murder and first-degree arson, appeared in court Monday and were ordered to be held without bond by a judge until their next court appearance. Formal charges against the minors are expected to be announced Thursday.