8-year-old girl dies after firework misfires during Fourth of July display, authorities say

SANTA ANA, Calif. (Gray News) - An 8-year-old girl in California died after being struck by fireworks during a Fourth of July display.

On Wednesday, 47-year-old Earl Decastro was charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter, along with recklessly setting fire causing great bodily injury and illegal possession of more than 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks, according to a press release.

On July 4, 2025, Jasmine, her mother and her 7-year-old sister were at Decastro’s home for a Fourth of July party.

Decastro is accused of buying both legal and illegal fireworks to light at the party, including an illegal $400 firework cake he bought from an unlicensed seller which contained professional-grade explosives that require a permit or license to buy.

After setting off fireworks in the street in front of his house for more than an hour, Decastro allegedly ignited an illegal $400 firework cake as a grand finale.

After a few seconds, the illegal firework misfired and shot aerial mortar shells into the driveway where the partygoers were gathered to watch the show.

Jasmine was sitting with her family next to a covered table that had additional unspent, dangerous fireworks when the mortars shot into the crowd.

The partygoers ran into Decastro’s home, but the unspent fireworks exploded near Jasmine before she could run to safety.

Police arrived immediately and tried to revive Jasmine, but she later died at the hospital.

“There is nothing accidental about buying and lighting illegal fireworks,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “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. Actions have consequences.”

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 6 years in state prison.