Prosecutors say an illegal Fourth of July firework malfunctioned during a Buena Park party.
SANTA ANA, Calif. — A Buena Park man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter nearly one year after prosecutors said an illegal fireworks display killed 8-year-old Jasmine Nguyen during a Fourth of July party.
Earl Decastro, 47, is accused of lighting a powerful illegal firework outside his home on July 4, 2025, causing a blast that sent shells toward guests and ignited nearby fireworks. Jasmine, an Anaheim girl who was at the party with her mother and younger sister, suffered fatal internal injuries.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office said Decastro had been lighting fireworks for more than an hour in front of his home in the 8000 block of Cornflower Circle, near La Palma and Stanton avenues. Prosecutors said the final device was a $400 firework “cake” bought from an unlicensed seller. It contained professional-grade explosives that require a permit or license to buy, store, move or use.
After Decastro lit the device, prosecutors said it malfunctioned within seconds and fired aerial mortar shells into the driveway, where guests had gathered to watch. Some people ran toward the house, but a stack of fireworks near Jasmine exploded. She was taken to UCI Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Authorities said her mother and 7-year-old sister were also at the home.
Decastro faces one felony count of involuntary manslaughter, one felony count of recklessly setting fire causing great bodily injury and one felony count of illegal possession of more than 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks. Prosecutors said he faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison if convicted.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said the case shows how quickly illegal fireworks can turn deadly. Investigators said the display included both legal and illegal fireworks, and the blast set off a chain reaction in a residential neighborhood filled with holiday gatherings.
Police and fire investigators responded after the explosion on July 4, 2025. The Buena Park Police Department, Orange County Fire Authority and sheriff’s bomb squad reviewed the scene. Officials later said many of the fireworks involved were illegal. No other major injuries were reported, but the blast left the neighborhood shaken.
The charges were filed July 1, 2026, just before the next Fourth of July holiday. Court proceedings will determine whether Decastro enters a plea and whether the case moves toward a preliminary hearing. Prosecutors have not said whether more charges are expected.
Jasmine’s death drew public attention across Orange County and renewed scrutiny of illegal fireworks in residential areas. Family members and community supporters remembered her as a young child whose life ended during what was supposed to be a holiday celebration.
The case remains active in Orange County Superior Court. Decastro is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and the next court milestone will set the pace for how prosecutors move forward.
Author note: Last updated July 5, 2026.