St. Petersburg Police are currently investigating a house fire that killed a 5-year-old boy.
The fire department was dispatched to 2701 6th Street South around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to investigators, the child's parents and the boy's 4-year-old sister were able to escape.
The family tried breaking windows to get to 5-year-old Hassan Vann, but the flames were too intense.
St. Petersburg Police officers and fire investigators have determined the fire started in the children's bedroom of the home. No criminal charges are pending.
Neighbor Dolores Hubbard is in disbelief. She choked back tears wailing, “he acted like an angel. He was so sweet. That little boy was so, so sweet.”
Hubbard considers herself the grandma of all the kids in her Driftwood neighborhood of 24 years and Hassan Vann held a special place in her heart.
“He’d be standing on the corner and say 'Hi grandma'. Now he’s gone. I'm going to miss him so much," she said as tears streamed down her face.
St. Pete Police officers tell ABC Action News the parents did everything they could to save their little boy.
“That’s what hurts so bad. They couldn’t get him out,” Hubbard said.
The mom, dad and 4 year old sister rushed out from the flames around 11:45 a.m. When they realized Hassan wasn’t with them, they broke every window and every door of the home. It was too late.
“Hassan he was a great baby, a beautiful little boy,” Brenda Tillman added.
Everyone up and down the 6th Street South played with the couple's two kids and say they are heartbroken.
“I’m crying inside and out,” Tillman said holding back tears. “Everybody in this neighborhood looks out for each other and we're doing it even more so now.”
