Nov. 9 -- Lubbock County Sheriff's deputies arrested a 28-year-old man who reportedly admitted to leaving his children home alone before a fire erupted in their West Lubbock residence and killed them, according to an arrest warrant.
Wesley Lance Harvey, 28, was booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center on a charge of abandoning or endangering a child, a state-jail felony that carries a punishment of 180 days to two years in a state jail. His bail is set at $50,000.
Deputies responded to a structure fire about 11 p.m. Wednesday in the 14000 block of County Road 1430, according to the sheriff's office.
Harvey arrived at the scene about 20 minutes after Wolfforth and Carlisle volunteer fire departments and EMS crews arrived and told officials that his children, ages 2 to 7, were inside the home, the warrant states.
Firefighters found the children who suffered burns and smoke-related injuries. The youngest child died at the scene and the remaining children were taken by ambulance to University Medical Center where they were pronounced dead, the warrant states.
Harvey reportedly told deputies that his wife was looking for work that night and he was left with the children. He reportedly told deputies he left the home for an hour while the children were inside sleeping, the warrant states. The warrant does not state where Harvey went.
Deputies initially arrested Harvey on Thursday morning on unrelated misdemeanor charges stemming from traffic violations, said LSO Capt. Joe Gilliam. While officials continued the investigation deputies obtained an additional warrant for Harvey's arrest alleging child endangerment or abandonment.
It was not clear what started the blaze and the State Fire Marshal's Office and the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire and any additional criminal charges.
One neighbor, Rob Stevens, told the A-J he came out of his home as fire crews were battling the blaze.
"I was just playing a video game, and my wife looked out the window and she was like, 'Oh my God, the house is on fire,'" he said. "I stood outside for about 10 to 15 minutes."
Stevens recalled seeing first responders as more fire engines showed up within approximately 30 minutes of the blaze starting.
"I was out here 10 minutes before they actually found somebody," he said. "I saw (first responders) brought the two kids out and they were doing CPR in the ambulance. It's just gut wrenching now, knowing everything else."
He knew little about the kids or their family, but said his kids would play with them.
Stevens said he usually observed a couple of vehicles at the home, but said he noticed there were no vehicles at the home at the time of the fire.
Harvey remained booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center on Thursday, and Gilliam said additional criminal charges are possible after officials can determine what caused the fire.
Caution tape remained around the property while investigators conducted the investigation. Officials confirmed only one side of the house was damaged.
Andy Penney, director of public relations at Frenship Independent School District, confirmed that one child who died in the fire was a Frenship student.
"The Frenship ISD family shares our deepest condolences as we grieve today with those who experienced tragic loss in last night's house fire. We extend our love and deepest sympathies to the families affected as we carry the burden of this tragedy together," Penney said.
Reporter Karen Michael contributed to this story.
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