A Buena Park man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter nearly a year after an 8-year-old girl was killed when prosecutors say illegal fireworks he ignited malfunctioned during a Fourth of July party, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday, July 1.
Earl Decastro, 47, is charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter in the July 4, 2025, death of Anaheim resident Jasmine Nguyen, along with recklessly setting fire causing great bodily injury and illegally possessing more than 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks, prosecutors said. If convicted, he faces up to six years in state prison.
According to prosecutors, Decastro purchased both legal and illegal fireworks for the party, including an illegal $400 professional-grade fireworks “cake” from an unlicensed seller. The fireworks require a permit or license to purchase, possess and use, prosecutors said.
After setting off fireworks in the street for more than an hour, Decastro allegedly ignited the fireworks cake as a grand finale. Seconds later, it malfunctioned and began firing aerial mortar shells into the driveway where partygoers had gathered to watch, prosecutors said.
Jasmine was sitting with her family near a covered table holding additional unspent fireworks when the mortar shells struck the area. As guests ran toward the house, the remaining fireworks exploded near the 8-year-old before she could escape, according to prosecutors.
Jasmine was rushed to the hospital, where she later was declared dead.
The charges came less than a week after Jasmine’s mother, Haley Nguyen, said she was not advocating for criminal charges to be filed against Decastro.
“I’m not pushing for any charges,” Nguyen said previously. “It really was an accident.”
Nguyen declined to comment Wednesday on the charges.
“There is nothing accidental about buying and lighting illegal fireworks,” District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “Actions have consequences, and I would hope that anyone thinking of lighting illegal fireworks this holiday would think of little Jasmine’s face first and choose instead to celebrate safely.”