Man’s death ruled homicide after 2 die in suspicious KC apartment fire

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Two people died in an apartment fire that happened in the morning on July 25. Kansas City fire investigators called it “suspicious”.

Crews responded at 4:29 a.m. to the fire call at Vivion Oaks Apartments just west of North Oak Trafficway, north of NE Vivion Road in Kansas City, Missouri. There, they found a building fully engulfed by flames. Crews fought the fire for a bit and made their way inside to clear the structure, then pulled crews out and fought the flames from the outside.

The building sustained severe damage and appears to be destroyed. One woman suffered minor burns to her arm, but she was not hospitalized. Firefighters initially believed there were no other serious injuries but, while clearing the building after the fire was deemed under control, they found two people dead inside.

The KCFD called the Kansas City Police Department’s Bomb and Arson Unit to the scene. The fire was deemed suspicious. It began in the front entryway, then spread to the rest of the building, according to the fire department.

Multiple families were displaced by the fire. The American Red Cross is helping out those families.

Update:

On Aug. 1, the Kansas City Police Department stated that one of the victims in this case has been identified as 19-year-old Aiden Ayers. Ayers’ death has been ruled a homicide, the police said.

On Aug. 17, the second victim was identified as 51-year-old Lee Ayers. The medical examiner’s office has not made a ruling on his death.

The investigation is ongoing. An official determination regarding whether this was arson or not will come at a later time.

Stay with KCTV5 News for any updates.

Additional coverage:

‘Really is upsetting’: Northland apartment complex fire claims two lives