46-year-old California man posts bail after fireworks blast that killed 8-year-old girl

By Mona Darwish Sydney Barragan

46-year-old California man posts bail after fireworks blast that killed 8-year-old girl

A 46-year-old Buena Park man has posted bail following his arrest after an 8-year-old girl was killed in a fireworks explosion on July 4th, police said Sunday.

The man, identified as Earl Decastro, posted a $25,000 bail after his arrest on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter, Buena Park police Lt. Jon-Michael Shaddow said.

Decastro was hosting a Fourth of July party, and the victim was the daughter of a family friend, police said Saturday.

A Buena Park police news release described what investigators said happened:

鈥淭hrough 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. This caused other illegal fireworks to ignite, which were near the child and others.鈥

The girl, identified as Jasmine Nguyen of Anaheim, was taken to UCI Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Charges are pending review by the Orange County District Attorney鈥檚 Office, police said.

A man who answered the door at Decastro鈥檚 home on Cornflower Circle on Sunday afternoon said Decastro declined to be interviewed.

鈥淗e鈥檚 grieving right now,鈥 the man said, 鈥渁nd it鈥檚 a really hard time for him.鈥

A memorial with a white cross, heart-shaped balloon, bouquets of flowers and some candles was taking shape at the end of the cul-de-sac.

This report will be updated when additional information becomes available.

Read More…