An eight-year-old girl has died after an illegal fireworks display misfired on the Fourth of July in Buena Park, California, tragically igniting other fireworks nearby and fatally striking the child.
A Family Celebration Turns to Tragedy
Jasmine Nguyen of Anaheim was standing near a family friend who lit the illegal firecrackers on Cornflower Circle when the display malfunctioned and began firing toward the residence where Jasmine and others were gathered.
“A large illegal fireworks display, which was placed in the street by the homeowner, failed and began misfiring toward the residence where the child was,” the Buena Park Police Department stated, per the Orange County Register.
The misfiring caused other illegal fireworks near Jasmine to ignite. Responding officers patrolling the neighborhood late Friday night saw family members “frantically carrying a child into a residence” before they stopped to assist.
Officers “observed family members frantically carrying a child into a residence” and quickly attempted life-saving measures before Jasmine was rushed to UC Irvine Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Others nearby were not seriously injured during the tragic accident, authorities confirmed.
Suspect Arrested on Suspicion of Involuntary Manslaughter
The Buena Park Police Department, working with the Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad, determined that many of the fireworks used in the display were illegal.
Earl Decastro, 46, was arrested and booked on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, police Lieutenant Jon-Michael Shaddow told the Orange County Register. Decastro has since bailed out of jail on a $25,000 bond, with charges pending review by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
When approached by Orange County Register reporters at his home on Cornflower Circle on Sunday, a man at the residence said Decastro was “grieving right now” and that “it’s a really hard time for him.”
A Family And Community in Mourning
A makeshift memorial for Jasmine has been set up at the cul-de-sac where the incident occurred, featuring a white cross, heart-shaped balloon, candles, and flowers.
Photos shared by her family show Jasmine smiling with a bird perched on her shoulder, holding an achievement award from school, visiting a pumpkin patch, and posing in a purple dress with a matching bow in her hair.
The tragedy comes just four months after Jasmine’s father passed away, leaving her mother, Bi Doan, a young single parent, to care for Jasmine and her 7-year-old sister while supporting her elderly mother.
“Our hearts are heavy as we come together to support a young, single mother, Bi Doan, and her family during an unimaginable time of loss,” a statement on a GoFundMe fundraising page reads - which has been set up to help financially support the family.
“The sudden and tragic passing of her 8-year-old daughter Jasmine on the 4th of July from a fireworks accident in Buena Park has left a void that words cannot fill.”
The online fundraiser has raised more than $83,000 from more than 1,600 donations as of Wednesday morning to help Jasmine’s family with funeral costs and ongoing support as they navigate this devastating period.
Illegal Fireworks and Safety Concerns in Buena Park
Buena Park allows so-called “Safe-and-Sane” fireworks, unlike many other Southland cities that ban residential fireworks. However, investigators have confirmed that a large number of fireworks detonated during the fatal explosion were illegal.
The incident highlights ongoing fireworks-related safety concerns as the Fourth of July holiday weekend saw multiple tragedies across the U.S., including mass shootings in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Brockton, Massachusetts, and a fatal fireworks incident in Indiana, per the Metro.
The Buena Park Police Department is continuing its investigation in coordination with the district attorney’s office to determine further accountability in Jasmine’s death.
Our thoughts go out to Nguyen's loved ones at this time.