Dad turns himself in after starting blaze that killed 5-year-old son, Bay Area police say

A father surrendered to Richmond authorities Wednesday after police accused him of intentionally setting fire to his home and killing his 5-year-old son, officials said.

Darrylone Shuemake Sr., 53, called the Richmond Police Department about 11:30 a.m., saying he was at San Pablo and Barrett avenues and wanted to turn himself in, Vallejo police Capt. John Whitney said in a statement. Richmond police went to the location and arrested him.

He later was transported to the Vallejo Police Department, where he talked to detectives.

Shuemake had been on the run since Sunday, and Vallejo police Lt. Jeff Bassett warned that Shuemake likely was dangerous.

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Authorities said Shuemake purposely set fire to his family home in the 800 block of Stella Avenue in Vallejo, trapping his son, Dayleon Seil-Shuemake, inside.

He likely used an accelerant to set the fire in the master bedroom, Bassett said.

Firefighters arrived at 9:53 a.m. Sunday to find the home in flames. Several neighbors were trying to rescue the boy, according to the Vallejo Fire Department.

Firefighters found Dayleon in a rear bedroom that was fully engulfed.

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The boy’s mother and his 13-year-old half brother suffered burns in the fire. The boy’s mother remains hospitalized in critical condition, police said.

After the fire, an arrest warrant for Shuemake was issued, accusing him of murder, attempted murder and arson, police said.

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