CONYERS, Ga. — Authorities believe a 6-year-old started the fire that killed four siblings and seriously injured his mother earlier this week.
Law enforcement officials made the announcement during an evening news conference Friday. The child will not face charges, but he will be turned over to the Division of Family and Children Services for fire safety counseling. Investigators believe he was playing with a lighter before the fire.
Late Tuesday night, the Glass family's Conyers duplex caught fire. Reba Glass was able to save her 6-year-old son by throwing him out a window, but her four other children were killed. Ah'Dariya, 9, DeShawn, 7, Armoni, 3 and 8-month-old Deon Jr. died in the fire.
A prayer service was held Thursday night at the Glass family's church, Macedonia Baptist Church. Teachers at the prayer service spoke to Channel 2 about how they are handling the situation with their students. Students at Shoal Creek Elementary School held a party on Friday to celebrate DeShawn's birthday.
"It's hard. I'm happy to say my children believe in God. They believe God wanted (DeShawn), so he's with Him looking down at us and watching over us right now," Lisa Campbell said.
Campbell said her class planned to release balloons for DeShawn's eighth birthday, which would have been on Sunday.
The family has put the funeral arrangements on hold until their mother can leave the burn unit at Grady Memorial Hospital. A memorial fund has also been set up for the family. Donations can be made to the Glass Family Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo branch.
[ Watch: Prayer service held for children killed in Conyers fire ]
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