Prosecutors say an illegal firework malfunctioned during a Buena Park holiday party and set off a deadly chain reaction.
SANTA ANA, Calif. — A Buena Park man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after prosecutors said illegal fireworks he lit during a Fourth of July party killed 8-year-old Jasmine Nguyen last year.
Earl Decastro, 47, faces three felony counts in Orange County Superior Court, including involuntary manslaughter, recklessly setting fire causing great bodily injury and illegal possession of more than 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks. Prosecutors said Jasmine died from multiple internal injuries after a malfunctioning firework sent shells toward guests and ignited more fireworks near her.
The blast happened July 4, 2025, at Decastro’s home on Cornflower Circle in Buena Park, where Jasmine, her mother and her 7-year-old sister had gathered for a holiday party. Prosecutors said Decastro had been lighting fireworks in the street for more than an hour before setting off an illegal $400 firework cake as a finale. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said the case was not a simple accident. “There is nothing accidental about buying and lighting illegal fireworks,” Spitzer said.
Authorities said the firework cake contained professional-grade explosives that required a permit or license to buy, store, transport or use. After Decastro lit it, prosecutors said, the device malfunctioned and fired aerial mortar shells into the driveway where guests were watching. Some people ran toward the home, but a stack of unspent fireworks near Jasmine exploded before she could get away. Police and emergency workers responded, and Jasmine was taken to UCI Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced the charges Wednesday, nearly one year after the deadly explosion. Decastro is accused of buying both legal and illegal fireworks, including the cake device from an unlicensed seller. Prosecutors said the amount of dangerous fireworks involved exceeded 100 pounds. The case now moves into court, where Decastro could face up to six years in state prison if convicted on the charges.
Buena Park police said after the 2025 incident that officers were already in the area when they saw commotion connected to a large fireworks display. Investigators later determined that many of the fireworks used were illegal. Fire investigators and bomb squad personnel assisted in reviewing the scene. Officials have not said whether anyone else will be charged, and court records cited in public reports did not list a plea from Decastro as of this week.
The death drew grief across Orange County and renewed attention on illegal fireworks during the July Fourth holiday. Jasmine, who was from Anaheim, was described by relatives and community members as a child whose life ended suddenly during what was supposed to be a family celebration. Prosecutors said the case shows how quickly an illegal neighborhood display can turn fatal when explosive devices are used around children and guests.
Decastro’s next court steps will determine how the felony case proceeds, including any arraignment, plea or hearing schedule. Prosecutors said the charges remain allegations unless proven in court.
Author note: Last updated July 4, 2026.