Overview
- Earl Decastro was formally charged on July 1, 2026, with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter and related fireworks offenses and will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Mallory Miller of the Homicide Unit.
- Prosecutors say an illegal professional-grade $400 firework 'cake' Decastro bought from an unlicensed seller malfunctioned at a July 4, 2025 neighborhood party and set off a chain of explosions that fatally injured 8-year-old Jasmine Nguyen.
- The charging document alleges the firework shot aerial mortar shells into the driveway, igniting a nearby stack of unspent fireworks before Jasmine could get to safety.
- In addition to involuntary manslaughter, Decastro faces counts for recklessly setting a fire causing great bodily injury and illegal possession of more than 100 pounds of dangerous fireworks, with a maximum state prison term of six years if convicted.
- The district attorney framed the filing as a public-safety enforcement action intended to deter unpermitted, professional-grade fireworks sales and use that can cause severe injury to families and neighbors.