As the rest of the country celebrated the nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, Jacksyn Smith’s family was grieving in Arkansas after planned celebrations didn’t go according to plan. Smith, 13, was allegedly holding a firework that was supposed to be launched from the ground, and when it blew up in his hand, it caused injuries that unfortunately proved fatal.
According to WREG News, the firework exploded in his face a few minutes past midnight on July 4. Deputies with the St. Francis County Sheriff’s Office said they received a call at 12:30 a.m. about a teen who had just had a firework explode in his hand.
