An Orange County homeowner has been charged with involuntary manslaughter nearly a year after an eight-year-old girl died when an illegal Fourth of July fireworks display allegedly malfunctioned during a neighborhood celebration.
Earl Decastro, 47, faces charges including involuntary manslaughter in the death of Jasmine Nguyen of Anaheim, California, along with recklessly setting a fire that caused great bodily injury and illegally possessing over 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to six years in state prison.
Prosecutors allege Decastro purchased both legal and illegal fireworks for a July 4, 2025, party at his Buena Park home. Among the items was a $400 illegal fireworks "cake" bought from an unlicensed seller, which contained professional-grade explosives requiring a permit or license.
According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, Decastro spent more than an hour setting off fireworks before lighting the illegal device as a grand finale shortly before 9:30 p.m. Within seconds, prosecutors claim, the fireworks malfunctioned and launched aerial mortar shells into the driveway where guests had gathered.
Jasmine Nguyen was sitting with her mother, her seven-year-old sister, and her grandmother when the mortars struck the crowd. Prosecutors allege that unspent fireworks near Jasmine exploded before she could escape.
Jasmine suffered multiple internal injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at UCI Medical Center. Several other individuals, including her grandmother, sustained injuries.
Decastro was arrested days after the incident on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter and later posted $25,000 bail. The charges were filed nearly one year after the explosion.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer stated that there is "nothing accidental about buying and lighting illegal fireworks." He added, "An eight-year-old little girl is dead and the man who killed her is going to be held responsible. A few seconds of fun is not worth a lifetime of trauma and the loss of a beautiful little girl who never had the chance to grow up."
Jasmine's mother, Haley Nguyen, had previously expressed that she did not want Decastro prosecuted, telling the Orange County Register that she believed the incident was an accident and that "it happened so quick. A fun day of friends turns into a nightmare."
Nguyen recalled that after the initial chaos, she did not expect Jasmine would not survive. "I couldn't do anything. I sat for months," she said.
Jasmine was remembered as a joyful and energetic child. Her mother closed her boba shop, Greatea, weeks after Jasmine's death. A dance group Jasmine was part of, 3âm, shared a video tribute featuring clips of her.
Haley Nguyen stated that the family now finds nightly fireworks displays, such as those at nearby Disneyland, to be painful reminders. "The fireworks every night... it's a little traumatizing," she said. "Before, we loved fireworks. Now I have to wait for them to be done to sleep."