Florida Man Accused of Killing 2 Young Kids Before Setting Home on Fire

A Florida man has been accused of killing two young children before setting a home on fire, authorities have said.

On Friday, Nov. 7, Escambia County Sheriff’s Office (ECSO) investigators responded to a “tragic fire,” in which “a 7-year-old and a 9-year-old were found deceased,” per a Facebook post.

The incident occurred at a trailer on Flaxman Street, Sheriff Chip Simmons said in a video update. 

The officer confirmed both children had been killed before the fire started, and one had been sexually assaulted.

The suspect has been named as John Henry Walston, Jr., per the ECSO Facebook post. Jail records showed the suspect is 27 years old and is currently being held without bond.

The fire occurred at Grand Oak Mobile Home Park, according to local station WEAR ABC 3 News. The victims have been named as 9-year-old Vayden Orum and 7-year-old Rayden Smith, per the outlet.

The sheriff’s office said that the fire “was intentionally set after the children were killed,” the Facebook post stated.

“Evidence shows that John Henry Walston, Jr. assaulted one of the children before killing them both. He then set the fire before saving himself,” it added.

The post continued, “This is a heartbreaking and senseless act of violence. Our thoughts and prayers go out to these children and their families during this unimaginable time.”

The ECSO confirmed Walston had since been charged with two counts of premeditated murder, one count of sexual assault on a victim under 12, and one count of arson.

Sheriff Chip Simmons said in the video message, “I don’t know what else I can say about this terrible event except for please hug your children.”

Walston was reportedly one of two adults who received treatment at a hospital after the blaze, according to WEAR ABC 3 News. The other was the children’s mother, who ran into the trailer while it was on fire, the outlet noted.

Tyler Smith, who is father to victim Rayden Smith and stepfather to Vayden Orum, told the station that the home belonged to Walston, adding that he’d known the suspect for years.

Smith said the two children had been staying at Walston’s at the time of the fire, per WEAR ABC 3 News.

“How can you expect any human being to do this?” he said, according to the outlet. “Let alone an adult with two kids.”

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Neighbor John Wenzel said of the victims’ mother, “She went into the trailer trying to get them. That’s a mother’s love….That’s why she’s in the Mobile Burn Center. She went inside the house trying to get her kids, but [it was] too hot. They finally got her out of there,” per the station.

The suspect has also been accused of killing an animal after a dog was found dead inside the home, the publication stated. Walston’s first court date is expected to be Nov. 26.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office didn’t immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.