Buena Park 8-year-old killed by home firework explosion on 4th of July

8-year-old killed by firework in Buena Park

An 8-year-old girl was killed after a homemade firework display misfired. It's the second fatal firework incident in Southern California this 4th of July weekend.

BUENA PARK, Calif. - An 8-year-old girl is dead after an illegal 4th of July firework display in Buena Park shot into her home.

What we know:

The incident happened around 9:45 p.m. on Cornflower Circle in Buena Park. The Buena Park Police Department said officers were on patrol and saw a bunch of fireworks go off in the area. 

When they went to check it out, the officers saw a family carrying a little girl – later identified as Jasmine Nguyen – into the house. Officers said the girl had "suffered injuries consistent with a fireworks-related explosion."

First responders took the girl to UC-Irvine Medical Center, where Nguyen died.

Dig deeper:

After investigating, police said the homeowner, later identified as Earl DeCastro, set up a large fireworks display in the street. The display malfunctioned, police said, and shot toward the house where the girl was.

The misfired firework caused a chain reaction and set off other fireworks nearby, according to the department, and the young girl was hit by one of the fireworks. 

According to the department, a "substantial amount" of the fireworks set off were illegal. 

Buena Park police said the victim's parents were friends with DeCastro and he was throwing a party for the 4th of July. 

Earl DeCastro via Buena Park PD

What we don't know:

The Orange County Sheriff's Department's Bomb Squad and the Orange County Fire Authority are investigating the explosion.

Police arrested DeCastro, and presented the case to the OC DA's office for potential charges. 

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The backstory:

This incident is at least the third fatal firework explosion so far this holiday weekend. On Thursday, a massive fireworks explosion set fire to several buildings in Pacoima, killing a woman. And in Simi Valley, a person died after fireworks went off in the garage of the house.