Earl Decastro, a 47-year-old Orange County resident, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter nearly one year after an illegal fireworks display at his Buena Park home resulted in the death of eight-year-old Jasmine Nguyen. According to prosecutors from multiple sources, Decastro purchased both legal and illegal fireworks for a July Fourth party, including a $400 'cake' containing professional-grade explosives that malfunctioned during the celebration.
Key Takeaways
Earl Decastro faces charges after an illegal fireworks display killed Jasmine Nguyen during a Fourth of July party. The 8-year-old suffered fatal injuries when a malfunctioning $400 'cake' firework exploded near her family.
- Earl Decastro charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless arson
- Illegal $400 firework cake caused explosion at Buena Park home
- Jasmine Nguyen died from internal injuries after mortars struck nearby table
- Victim's mother opposed prosecution, calling incident an accident
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 4 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family Position On Charges | 1 Difference | 'Never' vs 'opposed' framing | ▼ |
| Charges Filed | Broad Agreement | Involuntary manslaughter, reckless arson, illegal fireworks possession | |
| Victim Age | Broad Agreement | 8-year-old girl named Jasmine Nguyen | |
| Firework Device | Broad Agreement | $400 illegal fireworks cake with professional-grade explosives | |
| Victim Location | Broad Agreement | Sitting beside table with unspent fireworks when mortars struck |
Family Position On Charges
▼'Never' vs 'opposed' framing
Charges Filed
Broad AgreementInvoluntary manslaughter, reckless arson, illegal fireworks possession
Victim Age
Broad Agreement8-year-old girl named Jasmine Nguyen
Firework Device
Broad Agreement$400 illegal fireworks cake with professional-grade explosives
Victim Location
Broad AgreementSitting beside table with unspent fireworks when mortars struck
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The explosion occurred around 9:30pm on July 4, 2025, when mortars from the defective device struck a table holding additional unspent fireworks where Nguyen was sitting with her family. While other partygoers fled to safety inside Decastro's home, the young girl suffered fatal internal injuries before she could escape the blast. Emergency responders pronounced her dead shortly after arriving at UCI Medical Center.
Decastro faces up to six years in state prison if convicted on all charges, which also include recklessly setting a fire causing great bodily injury and illegal possession of more than 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer emphasized the seriousness of using unauthorized pyrotechnics: 'There is nothing accidental about buying and lighting illegal fireworks.'
Jasmine's mother, Haley Nguyen, previously expressed her opposition to prosecuting Decastro, describing the incident as an accident that turned a joyful celebration into tragedy. The family has since closed their boba shop business and moved across from Disneyland in Anaheim where nightly firework displays serve as painful reminders of their loss.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.