MILWAUKEE —Milwaukee police said an early morning fire that killed two people is being called arson.
Flames shot from the windows, consuming the front half of the home. Assistant Fire Chief Dan Lipski said several small explosions were noted and were believed to have been due to six oxygen tanks inside the home for medical purposes.
Two neighboring homes were also damaged.
Firefighters said one person was able to exit the home, but two bodies were found inside the home after the flames were extinguished.
Lt. Mark Stanmeyer said a 27-year-old man and an adult female were found deceased inside the burned out home. He said their deaths are now being called homicides.
According to family and friends, Dontray Jones was the man found dead on the first floor.
“He always had a smile on his face. He always kept a big smile on his face. I never knew him to have a down day,” Jones’ friend, Davashia Porter, said.
Jones' uncle, Tracy Mannery, said he doesn't know why someone would want to hurt his nephew.
“I just talked to him last night. I was in the recording studio, and he was supposed to be with me last night, and then I woke up this morning to this,” Mannery said.
WISN 12 New was told Jones was planning to attend a friend's funeral Friday.
“Just went to a funeral to bury another one, then you wake up and you find another one gone, and there's only so much that your heart can take,” Mannery said.
Stanmeyer said two men were arrested at the scene for charges unrelated to the fire, and that a suspect has not yet been identified in the fire.
“A lot of the time people see something going on, but they ain't telling, because people are mad at the police. They don't want to talk to the police or tell the police nothing,” former Milwaukee police Officer Malcolm Hunt said.
Hunt said it's going to take the help of Milwaukee’s youth to cut out the crime. He works with Pastors United trying to spread a message of faith
“Are we going to stop everything? No we're not, but I believe if we get out here we can put a big dent in what's happening in this city,” Hunt said.
A $5,000 reward is now being offered for information leading to an arrest. If anyone knows anything, they are asked to call the Arson Hotline at 800-362-3005.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating along with the State Fire Marshal and the Milwaukee Police Department.