An 8-year-old Anaheim girl was killed on Friday night, July 4th in an explosion in Buena Park that police suspect involved illegal fireworks, and a homeowner was arrested, police said.
Just before 9:45 p.m., Buena Park police officers were patrolling the 8000 block of Cornflower Circle after observing a large number of fireworks being detonated in the area. The officers saw family members “frantically” carrying a child into a home, and they immediately stopped to assist, police said in a news release.
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The homeowner was hosting a Fourth of July party at the residence, and the victim was the daughter of a family friend, Lt. Jon-Michael Shaddow said.
The girl was identified as Jasmine Nguyen, of Anaheim, Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Gerard McCann said.
“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,” the release said. “This caused other illegal fireworks to ignite, which were near the child and others.”
The other people present did not sustain significant injuries, according to authorities.
The homeowner, who was not identified, was arrested, and charges are pending review by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Police are working with Orange County Fire Authority investigators and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad.
On Saturday afternoon, a woman who said her husband’s family has owned a home in the area since the 1960s told KTLA that the community is known for holding exuberant July 4th celebrations, including having barbecues in the middle of the street.
“We were just walking up and down the streets yesterday, looking at all the celebrations,” she said. “And there’s over 100 people that ride bicycles that are all decorated red, white and blue … It’s just sad that something so terrible had to happen on such a wonderful day.”
California authorities announced that over 600,000 pounds of illegal fireworks and explosives were seized leading up to July 4th – more than double the amount confiscated in all of 2024.
Last year, there were 11 deaths related to fireworks in the U.S., most involving misuse and device misfire/malfunctions, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission. An estimated 14,700 people were injured by fireworks in 2024 – up 38% in deaths and about 52% in injuries, respectively, from 2023.
In Pacoima on Thursday, a fireworks explosion led to a fire that killed one man and injured a woman, displaced 18 people and damaged several homes.
Buena Park allowed so-called safe and sane fireworks on July 4th. The city also had encouraged residents to report if they saw illegal fireworks possessed, sold or set off.
This is a developing story. More will be added as information becomes available.
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