Five people have been charged with murder following a massive explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Northern California that left seven people dead and injured two others, the Associated Press reported citing authorities.
The charges come after a grand jury indictment in Yolo County, where prosecutors allege the accused were responsible for operating an illegal and highly dangerous fireworks storage facility near the small farming community of Esparto.
Among those charged is Samuel Machado, the owner of the warehouse and a former lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office.
Prosecutors said Machado misused his official position to shield the operation as it rapidly expanded over the years.
The facility reportedly grew from 13 storage containers in 2015 to around 50 last year, with nearly one million pounds of fireworks stored at the site at the time of the blast.
Kenneth Chee, owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, has also been charged with murder. He was arrested in Florida and is expected to be extradited to California.
Two others linked to the company — operations manager Jack Lee and licence holder Gary Chan Jr. — have also been taken into custody and face similar charges.
A fifth accused, Douglas Tollefson, remains at large. Authorities have not yet detailed his exact role in the incident.
Prosecutors said the case goes beyond standard fireworks violations, alleging the materials stored were far more explosive than legally permitted.
Overall, eight individuals face around 30 charges, including conspiracy, illegal possession of explosives and weapons, insurance fraud, child endangerment, and animal cruelty.
Others arrested include Craig Cutright, owner of Blackstar Fireworks and a volunteer firefighter, and Ronald Botelho III, who has been in custody since December and now faces additional charges.
Machado’s wife, Tammy Machado, was also arrested but later released on bail.
Residents described the explosion as extremely powerful, with shockwaves damaging nearby homes. Witnesses said the blast felt like a bomb, forcing people and animals to scatter.
The explosion also disrupted Independence Day celebrations in nearby counties, as stored fireworks meant for public events were destroyed in the incident.
Authorities continue to investigate the case as legal proceedings move forward.
