Tot's death in fire ruled homicide

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Police have determined that a 3-year-old boy's death in a house fire was a homicide.

Police confirmed Thursday that arson was the cause of Saturday's blaze, which killed Mar-Shawn Harper and injured three of his relatives.

Mar-Shawn was staying with his uncle, Anthony Carter Sr., and Carter's two sons, Anthony Carter Jr. and Montel Carter, when a fire erupted on the porch. Three other adults living at the house escaped without injury.

Firefighters found Mar-Shawn on a bed in a corner room of the second floor. He was pronounced dead later.