Friday, 17 July 2026, 7:00
A Fourth of July celebration in Chino turned deadly Saturday night when a massive fireworks explosion killed a woman and severely injured three others, including a child. The blast, which also ignited a vehicle fire and a nearby palm tree, prompted a swift police response and led to the arrest of a 28-year-old man on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter.
At approximately 8:30 p.m. on July 4, officers responded to reports of a vehicle fire on the 5600 block of D Street in Chino. Upon arrival, they discovered an explosion had occurred, leaving four victims with injuries. The scene was chaotic, with witnesses describing people scattering as a car became fully engulfed in flames. Gabriel Gilmore, a nearby resident, told ABC7 he saw a trunk full of illegal fireworks that appeared to be the source of the blast. Gilmore described the explosion as "humongous," comparing it to a gas line explosion in a house, and said the plume of smoke was the size of a house. Neighbors believe that one illegal firework that was lit in the neighborhood landed inside a car, which was filled with more pyrotechnics and parked next to a propane grill, causing the explosion. One witness said the fireworks were ignited in the car’s trunk, but couldn’t say if the fireworks were lit on purpose or accidentally.
Terrifying video captured the seconds after the cache of fireworks exploded, with residents heard screaming for help. Minutes later, a car was engulfed in flames. Another video shows the moment first responders rushed to the scene, with an injured man being treated. Debris was scattered across a front yard and nearby street in the aftermath. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as people ran from the area immediately after the blast. "Back up, back up, back up... everybody get back!" one person can be heard saying in video recorded at the scene. Neighbor Stephanie Moreno said, "Everyone was saying, 'Get back! Get Back!' I just tried to keep my kids and our family over here, because we had family over, and it was just really scary."
All four victims were rushed to local hospitals. A woman in her 20s later died from her injuries, according to the Chino Police Department. Her identity is being withheld pending identification and notification of next of kin by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. The other two adults suffered serious injuries but are expected to survive. A juvenile was taken for evaluation and has since been released to a parent or guardian.
During the investigation, police detained Derion Tradon James Jr., a 28-year-old resident of Hesperia. He was booked at the West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter. Jail records show he is being held on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday morning. The Chino Police Department confirmed that the arrest followed a preliminary investigation indicating that a large quantity of fireworks ignited, causing the explosion. The case will be submitted to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office for review.
However, he was released from custody two days later after posting bail, pending an initial court appearance. As of July 9, no charges had been filed.
Following the incident, police said investigators and fire personnel remained at the scene as they worked to ensure the area was safe and evaluate any remaining fireworks, debris and other hazards. Several nearby roadways were closed over the weekend. The Chino Police Department is leading the criminal investigation. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner will conduct the death investigation, while the Ontario Fire Department Bomb Squad is assisting investigators with the explosives-related part of the case. A spokesperson for the Chino police department told ABC News that the investigation is "active and ongoing," and that detectives are working with the Ontario Fire Department's bomb squad to determine exactly what occurred.
Investigators were seen searching the neighborhood Saturday night and early Sunday morning. A car with broken windows sat in the driveway of the home on Sunday. A KABC crew at the scene watched as the homeowner replaced the fence that was destroyed with a blue tarp.
The victim has since been identified as Leslie Jacqueline Viguerias Bustos, 23, of Hesperia, by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office. Known to loved ones as "Jackie," she suffered horrific injuries, including the loss of a limb and burns to the right side of her body, according to a friend's online fundraiser. A formal cause of death is pending autopsy.
Chino, located in San Bernardino County, is part of the Inland Empire region, which has seen a rise in illegal fireworks incidents in recent years. The explosion occurred during a holiday weekend that also saw multiple fires across Southern California, including a commercial building fire in Harbor Gateway, a car fire in Wilmington, and a tree fire in Mission Hills. In La Habra, a two-alarm fire damaged a commercial building. No injuries were reported in those incidents, but they underscore the widespread hazards of illegal fireworks use.
In Los Angeles County, the fire department said a man was critically injured after a fire burned at least two cars in a parking lot in the Wilmington neighborhood on July 3. The incident also prompted the evacuation of a nearby hotel and a two-story single-family home, displacing 10 adults and two children. After extinguishing the flames with foam, crews discovered "what appeared to be potentially dangerous explosives/fireworks" near the vehicles, and the Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad determined that "commercial grade fireworks" were found on the ground next to the burned vehicles, according to the department. Fourth of July celebrations in Newport Beach, California, a coastal city in Orange County, led to over 400 arrests after large crowds became disorderly, according to police. “As the crowd rapidly grew, individuals engaged in increasingly dangerous and unlawful behavior" including by "blocking roadways, restricting emergency vehicle access and throwing explosive mortars, fireworks and other projectiles at police officers," the city of Newport Beach said.
Illegal fireworks have long been a problem in California, particularly during the Fourth of July. State laws ban the sale and use of fireworks that explode or leave the ground, but enforcement varies. In 2023, the California State Fire Marshal reported over 1,200 fireworks-related incidents statewide, including injuries and fires. The Chino explosion highlights the deadly potential of such devices, especially when used in large quantities by untrained individuals.
Ahead of July Fourth celebrations, experts had warned the public to stay safe around fireworks, citing a spike in the number of fireworks-related fatalities in 2025. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), there were 15 deaths and 13,000 injuries in the United States attributed to either the misuse of or malfunctions with fireworks. Of those, 1,300 emergency-room-treated injuries were caused by sparklers. About 68% of all fireworks injuries occur in July; July Fourth is the most injury-prone day, with 27% of total injuries, USA TODAY previously reported. New Year's Day is the second-largest, with 5.5% of total injuries.
This tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of illegal fireworks. Authorities urge the public to attend professional displays and report suspicious fireworks activity. The investigation remains active, and anyone with information about the Chino incident is asked to contact Detective Gregory at 909-334-3136.
