‘3 innocent souls lost’: Community honors siblings who died in Concord house fire

A vigil was held Friday for the three children who died in a Concord house fire.

The community honored the lives of 16-year-old Daniella, 15-year-old Stephen, and 11-year-old Emmanuelle Keuviakoe.

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Investigators say they were home alone when a fire started at their home on Lincoln Street Southwest early Sunday morning.

The vigil was in the courtyard at the city’s housing department on Harold Goodman Circle Southwest, which is near a memorial at the family’s former home.

Shamega Brown said her heart is with the children’s mother.

“A tragedy,” said Brown, with Cabarrus Rowan Community Health Centers. “Such a tragedy. She lost not one but all of her children. Like I said, as a mother, I don’t even know where she is right now as far as the mindset but it’s devastating. She lost all three of her children.”

“It’s just sad, because you never know when it’s time for you to go,” said Desiree Cruse, a family friend. “Just three innocent souls lost.”

Cruse says she will live her life differently in honor of the three lives lost.

“Honestly, live every moment like it’s my last,” Cruse said. “Like I said, you know nobody expected this. You just never know.”

A GoFundMe, which was started by a family friend, has already raised tens of thousands of dollars for the family.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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