Child, 8, Killed by Fireworks In Buena Park Identified

BUENA PARK, CA — An 8-year-old girl who was killed during a July 4 fireworks display at a neighborhood in Buena Park was identified by authorities Sunday as Jasmine Nguyen of Anaheim.

The girl's name was confirmed to City News Service by Sgt. Gerald McCann, public information officer for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Nguyen was injured at about 9:45 p.m. Friday in the 8000 block of Cornflower Circle, north of La Palma and Stanton avenues, according to the Buena Park Police Department. Officers were patrolling there after seeing a large quantity of fireworks detonate in the area, and observed family members "frantically carrying a child into a residence."

They stopped and attempted life-saving efforts before the girl was rushed to UC Irvine Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

"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," police said Saturday. "This caused other illegal fireworks to ignite, which were near the child and others. At some point, the child had been struck, causing fatal injuries. Several other individuals were present, but no significant injuries were reported."

Nguyen was the daughter of a friend of the Buena Park family, Lt. Jon- Michael Shaddow of the BPPD told Southern California News Group.

Police said the homeowner was arrested, and charges were pending upon review from the Orange County District Attorney's Office. The BPPD was working with Orange County Fire Authority investigators and the Orange County Sheriff's Department Bomb Squad.

Unlike some Southland cities that ban residential fireworks completely, Buena Park allows so-called "Safe-and-Sane" fireworks.

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