A Santa Ana man has been charged with lighting illegal fireworks and causing a Fourth of July explosion that left a 4-year-old and an 8-year old with burned corneas. Frank Lazcano Lopez, 46, of Santa Ana faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if he is convicted on all counts.
After the explosion, the two brothers were rushed to the hospital.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer’s office said several other children and adults also suffered burns to their faces and scalps because of the explosion. Spitzer's office alleges the explosion also “caused significant damage to several nearby cars and shattered windows.”
“The injuries suffered by these innocent children were completely preventable,” said Spitzer in a statement.
“Every year, law enforcement and fire officials warn the public about the dangers of illegal fireworks – and every year people suffer injuries they should never have suffered if they had listened to our warnings.”
Lopez was arrested by Garden Grove police Thursday, July 8.
He was charged Monday with two felony counts of explosion causing mayhem and great bodily injury, one felony count of explosion of a destructive device causing bodily injury and one felony count of dissuading a witness by force or threat.
He is currently being held on $1 million bail.
Public officials and law enforcement have urged Southern Californians not to explode illegal fireworks with Los Angeles Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez spearheading a fireworks buyback program. The initiative, which was modeled off the city's gun buyback program, netted more than a quarter-ton of fireworks.