A small memorial grew at the end of a cul-de-sac in Buena Park on Sunday, on a street where an 8-year-old Anaheim girl was killed in a fireworks explosion on July 4th, 2025. (Photo by Mona Darwish/SCNG)
A 46-year-old Buena Park man has posted bail following his arrest after an 8-year-old girl was killed in a fireworks explosion on July 4th, police said Sunday.
The man, identified as Earl Decastro, posted a $25,000 bail after his arrest on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, Buena Park police Lt. Jon-Michael Shaddow said.
Decastro was hosting a Fourth of July party, and the victim was the daughter of a family friend, police said Saturday.
A Buena Park police news release described what investigators said happened:
“Through initial investigation, a large illegal fireworks display, which was placed in the street by the homeowner, failed and began misfiring toward the residence where the child was. This caused other illegal fireworks to ignite, which were near the child and others.”
The girl, identified as Jasmine Nguyen of Anaheim, was taken to UCI Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Charges are pending review by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, police said.
A man who answered the door at Decastro’s home on Cornflower Circle on Sunday afternoon said Decastro declined to be interviewed.
“He’s grieving right now,” the man said, “and it’s a really hard time for him.”
A memorial with a white cross, heart-shaped balloon, bouquets of flowers and some candles was taking shape at the end of the cul-de-sac.
This report will be updated when additional information becomes available.
Originally published at Sydney Barragan, Mona Darwish