A 10-year-old girl lost several fingers on her left hand after a firework exploded in General Douglas MacArthur Park on Staten Island Tuesday evening, leading to the arrest of a New York City Parks Department employee.
Authorities stated the incident occurred around 6:45 p.m. when the child found an M-80 firework in a park bathroom. She then showed it to Joshua Moe, a 24-year-old Parks Department worker, who police allege helped light it. Shortly after, witnesses reported a loud explosion near the restroom area.
Responding officers found the girl with catastrophic injuries to her hand and administered a tourniquet before transporting her to Staten Island University Hospital. She was listed in stable condition.
According to investigators, the girl told authorities that Moe lit the firework for her. Moe told an officer at the scene, "Yes, I gave her the lighter. I didn't think this would have happened. She wanted the lighter to light a firework; I wanted to make them happy and have fun."
He has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment. Moe was arraigned in criminal court on Staten Island on Wednesday and was released under supervision. The investigation into how the firework initially came to be in the park bathroom is ongoing.