Full Notification

Yesterday, February 7, 2018 at about 2:52 p.m., the Chula Vista Police Department received a call to assist on a medical aid call in the 1400 block of Santa Diana Road. Upon arrival, officers found a sixteen-year-old girl suffering from a serious injury to her right foot. Per the juvenile victim, she was walking home from Otay Ranch High School and saw two male juveniles ahead of her. One juvenile appeared to throw a lit object on the ground. Assuming the lit object was a burning leaf, the victim stepped on it to put it out. The object exploded, causing a serious injury to her foot. The juvenile victim was transported to UCSD hospital for treatment and has undergone surgery to her foot. It is the policy of the Chula Vista Police Department not to identify juvenile victims.

Chula Vista Police Officers located the scene of the incident and secured it pending further investigation. CVPD Arson Investigators and investigators from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department Bomb/Arson Unit also responded to determine the nature of the device and ensure there was no further danger to the community. The preliminary investigation has determined that the explosive device was likely a commercially made firecracker in the shape of a flat triangle. While sometimes appearing innocuous, all firecrackers can be extremely dangerous if improperly handled. All forms of firecrackers and explosive devices are illegal in San Diego County because of the danger of injury to persons and the inherent fire danger, especially under drought conditions.

Chula Vista School Resource Officers and Investigators were able to determine the identity of the two male juveniles and interviewed them with the cooperation of their parents. There is no indication that the male juvenile who threw the firecracker to the ground did so with malice and did not know the victim was injured by his actions. The juvenile stated he obtained the firework from another juvenile who goes to another school. CVPD School Resource Officers followed up with the third juvenile and determined the device was likely an illegal firework which was legally acquired in Arizona and subsequently illegally brought to Chula Vista. The third juvenile and his parents were cooperative and the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson unit secured the remaining fireworks in the juvenile’s possession.

CVPD investigators and the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson Unit are continuing the investigation and will submit their findings to the District Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges. It is the policy of the Chula Vista Police Department to not identify juvenile suspects. This incident was a tragic reminder to our community that possession of illegal fireworks is a crime in San Diego County because they are inherently dangerous. Under California law, illegal fireworks include sky rockets, bottle rockets, roman candles, aerial shells, firecrackers and other
types that explode, go into the air, or move on the ground in an uncontrollable manner.

Parents should be especially vigilant to ensure they do not allow their children to buy, use or possess fireworks of any kind. Possession of fireworks is a misdemeanor and can sometimes be a felony depending on circumstances and safe disposal of fireworks is critical. If anyone comes across fireworks or has fireworks in their possession, you may surrender them to the police department or the fire department for proper destruction. Persons surrendering fireworks for destruction will not face prosecution for possession.

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Captain Vern Sallee will be available after 12:00 pm on Thursday, February 8th for further comments or interview requests.