Illegal Fireworks Fatality
Prosecutors Charge Man in 8-Year-Old's Death From Illegal Fireworks Blast
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Key Points
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Prosecutors added two additional charges to involuntary manslaughter: illegally possessing more than 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks and recklessly setting fire causing great bodily injury.
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The $400 'cake' device was an illegal, professional-grade firework bought from an unlicensed seller that contains explosives requiring a permit or license to purchase, store or use.
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The fireworks display lasted more than an hour and culminated with mortars launched near a covered table containing unspent fireworks, with Jasmine sitting nearby as mortars shot into the crowd.
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The charges were announced nearly a year after the July 4, 2025 tragedy, with officials framing the incident around the clear illegality of fireworks use in this case.
A Buena Park man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after an illegal fireworks explosion at a Fourth of July party killed 8-year-old Jasmine Nguyen. Earl Decastro, 47, faces up to six years in state prison if convicted on all counts, according to Fox LA.
The blast happened at Decastro's home during a backyard fireworks show that lasted more than an hour. Jasmine was sitting with her family when mortar shells shot into the crowd. She later died at UC Irvine Medical Center, NewsNation reported.
Three Charges Filed Nearly a Year After Tragedy
Orange County prosecutors filed three charges against Decastro: felony involuntary manslaughter, recklessly setting fire causing great bodily injury, and illegally possessing more than 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks. The charges were announced nearly one year after the July 4, 2025 incident, ABC7 reported.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer did not mince words. He said there was nothing accidental about buying and setting off illegal fireworks. "There are consequences," Spitzer warned, framing the case around the clear illegality of Decastro's actions.
A $400 Illegal Firework Set Off a Chain Reaction
Decastro spent $400 on a professional-grade firework called a "cake" — a device packed with multiple aerial mortar shells. He bought it from an unlicensed seller. That type of firework requires a permit or license to purchase, store, or use, according to Fox LA.
During the show, Decastro launched mortars near a covered table that held unspent fireworks. The mortars malfunctioned and sent projectiles into the crowd. Jasmine was sitting nearby when she was struck. The malfunction turned a backyard party into a deadly scene, Yahoo News reported.
Jasmine's Mother Did Not Push for Charges
Jasmine's mother previously said she did not advocate for criminal charges against Decastro. Despite her wishes, prosecutors moved forward with the case. Authorities argued the public safety risk was too serious to ignore, NewsNation reported.
Case Renews Warnings About Illegal Fireworks Dangers
The case has put a spotlight on illegal fireworks ahead of summer holidays. Consumer fireworks are banned in many California cities, including Buena Park. Professional-grade devices like the one Decastro used are far more powerful — and far more dangerous — than anything sold at a roadside stand.
Prosecutors used the case to send a direct message to the public. Buying illegal fireworks and setting them off in a neighborhood is not a prank or a minor violation. As this case shows, it can be a felony that ends a child's life and lands someone in state prison for six years, Fox LA reported.
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