San Bernardino County man arrested for fireworks explosion that killed South LA teen last year
A San Bernardino County man was arrested last month for a deadly fireworks explosion that killed a 17-year-old boy in South Los Angeles last December, according to police.
In a news release, the Los Angeles Police Department said that their nearly year-long investigation resulted in the arrest of 27-year-old Ontario man, Giovani Diaz.
Detectives began their investigation back on December 3, 2025, at around 9:30 p.m., when officers were called for reports of a person on fire at a home in the 400 block of W. 84th Street.
"The initial investigation revealed that an unidentified person was manipulating pyrotechnic materials when they exploded, causing serious injuries," LAPD's release said.
The victim, a 17-year-old boy, was taken to a nearby hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries, police said. Since then, detectives have been investigating the incident, which led them to identify "several groups involved in illegal pyrotechnic activity and the sale of related components through social media."
On Wednesday, September 30, police conducted several search warrants at a Rancho Cucamonga storage facility and a home in the 900 block of N. Duesenberg Drive in Ontario, which led to Diaz's arrest.
He was booked for possession of a destructive device and had his bail set at $500,000, police said, noting that they have presented other charges to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for consideration, including child endangerment and narcotics offenses.
"Investigators also recovered multiple explosive devices and components, currency, narcotics, drug paraphernalia, and other evidence associated with the investigation.
