3 Killed, Found Stabbed In Burning Detroit Home
DETROIT (WWJ) - Three people were found dead with multiple stab wounds in a burning home on Detroit's west side.
Detroit Fire Arson Chief Charles Sims said they were called to the home — in the 13,000 block of Bentler, near I-96 and Outer Drive — at around 3 p.m.
"Firefighters arrived on the scene, and they noticed they had flames coming out the front door and the front windows," Sims told WWJ's Sandra McNeil. "As they got inside the building, that's when they noticed the one male; he was up against the south wall. They were able to pull him out and he was rushed to the hospital."
That man, reportedly in his 20s, later died. The other two victims, a man in his 50s and another man in his 20s, were found dead in the basement.
Hill told WWJ that the situation was a challenge from the beginning:
"Oh, it's just horrible ... dealing with the road conditions and then they get on the scene and find out that a house fire turned into a triple fatality scene," said Hill.
Speaking to WWJ Newsradio 950 at the scene, Detroit Interim Fire Commissioner Jonathan Jackson said a member of his department was taken to the hospital.
"We did have one firefighter — a very seasoned member of our department, a five-year sergeant — who sustained minor burns," Jackson said.
Jackson said that firefighter was expected to be treated and released Monday evening.
"There is a pending homicide investigation, three fatalities," said Police Captain Eric Decker. "The fire appears to be a cover-up."
There have been no arrests. Jackson said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
It's unclear whether the home was an abandoned property.
"I don't know, I never really paid that house no attention before," said Jason Hill who has a friend on the street.
The victims' names were not immediately released but a homicide investigation is underway.
Stay with WWJ and CBSDetroit.com for more on this developing story.