KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV/AP) - March 3, 2017

Feb 15, 2017 By Tony Rizzo Kansas City Star

Feb 15, 2017 KMBC 9 News by Michael Mahoney

A man convicted of setting the fire that led to one of Kansas City's biggest and most deadly explosions wants his prison sentence overturned.

Wednesday in court Bryan Sheppard got the chance to tell a judge why he should be released.

Sheppard is one of five people convicted of setting a shed of explosives on fire at a construction site near 87th Street and U.S. Highway 71 back in 1988. The massive blast that resulted killed six firefighters answering the call.

That fire was so intense you could hardly recognize the destroyed fire rigs.

Feb 14, 2017 Fox 4 News

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- It’s been more than 28 years since six firefighters were killed in one of the worst explosions ever to rock Kansas City. Wednesday, for the first time, one of the people convicted of their murders could walk out of a courtroom a free man.

A 2012 Supreme Court ruling says juveniles can’t be given life sentences without the possibility of parole without taking certain factors into account. Bryan Sheppard's family maintains he’s innocent, but that’s why they worry he’ll remain in prison.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - 2/15/2017 KSHB 41

A judge is expected to rule on Bryan Shepard's sentencing on March 3.

A man convicted of killing six Kansas City firefighters in an explosion over two decades ago is asking to be set free after being sentenced to life in prison without parole.

This podcast is from the Center for Investigative Reporting, which co-produces the “Reveal” radio show and podcast with PRX. “Reveal” features CIR’s reporting, as well as stories from public radio stations and a wide range of media partners, both nonprofit and commercial. For “Trial by Fire,” CIR relied on decades of reporting from Flatland’s Special Projects Reporter Mike McGraw, who first covered the story for The Kansas City Star.

By Julia B. Chan | Reveal Feb. 4, 2017