An 8-year-old girl was killed when an illegal July Fourth fireworks display blasted toward her, setting off other fireworks she was standing near — with the family friend who lit them already out on bail, according to authorities.
Little Jasmine Nguyen was found late Friday by patrol officers who responded to the illegal pyrotechnic display in Buena Park, according to the Orange County Register.
Responding officers “observed family members frantically carrying a child into a residence,” the Buena Park Police Department said.
“Officers immediately stopped to assist and discovered a young girl suffered critical injuries, consistent with a fireworks-related explosion,” the department said. The 8-year-old girl was rushed to a local hospital but could not be saved.
The initial investigation suggests that “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,” police said.
“This caused other illegal fireworks to ignite, which were near the child and others,” police said.
“At some point, the child had been struck, causing fatal injuries Several other individuals were present, but no significant injuries were reported.”
“A large number of fireworks that detonated were illegal, per the investigation and assistance from both the Fire investigators and Bomb Squad,” the department wrote.
Earl Decastro, a 46-year-old friend of the dead girl’s family, was nabbed and booked for involuntary manslaughter. He has already been freed since posting $25,000 bail, the OC Register reported.
The incident remains under investigation.
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