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Investigators Look Into Possible Link To Dade Home Fire & Murder Case

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Miami-Dade Fire Rescue investigators have determined that the fires which destroyed two cars and a home overnight were intentionally set.

The owner of the home, Daniel St.-Louis told CBS4's Peter D'Oench that he and his wife Marie had lived in the home since 1988 and said he had no idea why someone set it on fire. "I don't understand why this happened," he said by telephone.

"I don't understand why this happened," he said by telephone.

The investigation has now been turned over to Miami-Dade Police.

One of the cars set on fire was parked in the driveway of the home at 12525 NW 18th Court. The other was parked on the side of it.

"It's crazy 'cause we don't normally have that kind of crazy stuff," said 'Carlene', a neighbor.

The fire inside the residence was so intense, it burned through the roof which collapsed.

No one was inside the home when the fire was set.

Carlene, who lives a block away from the house, said she smelled the unmistakable acrid scent of the smoke.

"I smelled it but I didn't know, you know, it was that house. I'm just so surprised," said Carlene. "When I heard the sirens. And I was like, 'oh my goodness.'We've never had this over here."

During the course of their investigation, police will be looking to see if there is any connection to a murder in the neighborhood last week. Barryson Pierre-Louis, 24, was shot a few doors down. Police later found him dead in his yellow Chevy Camaro two blocks away.

Coincidentally, two Miami-Dade Police homicide detectives stopped at dozens of homes in the area just before noon, passing out a new flyer in the death of Louis.

Carlene said she heard the gunfire.

"Me and my mom, we was outside and we was painting and we heard, I mean, it was a lot of shots. Then we saw a car going out on the road," said Carlene. "When we left the house, we saw the man on the ground dead. It took something out of me 'cause I hate to see people die."

Police have not said what led to Louis' murder.

Daniel St.-Louis said he and his wife were not inside the home because they had moved out after the shooting.

If you can help Miami-Dade Police with the homicide, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305 471-TIPS (8477). There is a reward of up to $3,000.

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