Anaheim, CA — What should’ve been a night of celebration turned into a nightmare for one Southern California family when 8-year-old Jasmine Nguyen was fatally struck by an illegal firework during an Independence Day block party.
The young girl, described by neighbors as “sweet, bubbly, and always dancing,” was caught in the blast of a rogue firework that exploded near her home in Buena Park around 9:45 p.m. on July 4. She later died at UC Irvine Medical Center from what authorities called “critical injuries consistent with a fireworks-related explosion.”
“It was chaos. One minute we were all watching the fireworks, and the next, there was screaming,” said a neighbor who witnessed the aftermath. “Then we saw her family run inside carrying her. We had no idea it was that serious.”
According to the Buena Park Police Department, officers patrolling the area witnessed the family frantically rushing Jasmine into a nearby home. When police followed to investigate, they found the child gravely injured. Officers immediately attempted CPR before paramedics rushed her to the hospital, but she did not survive.
Authorities say the explosion came from a large stockpile of illegal fireworks being set off by a neighbor identified as Earl Decastro, who was arrested at the scene. Police allege Decastro’s fireworks began misfiring and shooting toward homes, triggering a chain reaction of blasts. One of those explosions fatally struck Jasmine. No other injuries were reported.
Decastro, a local resident in his 30s, was booked on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and later released on bail. Official charges are pending review by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
“This was not an accident in the traditional sense. This was reckless behavior with deadly consequences,” a Buena Park police spokesperson said during a press briefing.
Investigators with the Orange County Fire Authority and the Sheriff’s Bomb Squad confirmed that a “large number” of the fireworks found at the scene were illegal under California law. Buena Park allows only “safe and sane” fireworks—small, ground-based fountains and sparklers—but anything explosive or aerial is strictly banned.
The Orange County Fire Authority had issued multiple warnings in the days leading up to the Fourth of July, urging residents to attend public fireworks shows rather than lighting their own. Their fact sheet, shared widely online, highlighted the potential for injury, fines, and even jail time for illegal use.
“This is exactly the type of tragedy we warn about every year,” said OCFA spokesperson Rich Harvey. “And yet every year, someone thinks they’re above the law.”
As the community mourns, a makeshift memorial has sprung up outside the Nguyen family’s home—stuffed animals, candles, and hand-drawn notes from neighborhood children.
No public comment has been made by Jasmine’s family, but relatives have requested privacy as they grieve. A family friend shared on social media, “She was only 8. She was just watching fireworks with her cousins. Now she’s gone because someone wanted to play with bombs.”
The case has reignited calls for stricter crackdowns on illegal fireworks in Southern California suburbs, where black market explosives continue to circulate despite citywide bans and public awareness campaigns.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is expected to announce a decision on formal charges against Decastro in the coming days.
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