Multiple people face charges, including murder, in California fireworks blast | California
Multiple people have been charged with murder in connection with a deadly fireworks warehouse explosion in California that killed seven people and injured two others in July.
The explosion in the 5,000-square-foot warehouse sparked a massive fire near the small town of Esparto, about an hour outside of Sacramento. The explosion occurred on July 1; Local celebrations commemorating the July 4th holiday were canceled that year.
All of those killed were employees of Devastating Pyrotechnics, one of several companies that stored explosives at the warehouse. Authorities and family members identified the victims as 18-year-old Jesús Ramos; Jhony Ramos, 22; Joel “Young” Melendez, 28; Carlos Rodríguez-Mora, 43; Angel Mathew Voller, 18; Christopher Bocog, 45; and Neil Li (41), Sacramento Bee.
At least seven people are facing charges for their roles in the storage and transportation of fireworks illegally held at the warehouse.
The defendants include Samuel Machado, who was a lieutenant in the Yolo County sheriff’s office at the time of the disaster. Machado faces 26 charges, Capital Public Radio reportedThis includes murder, illegal possession of explosives, and reckless possession of explosives.
Machado allegedly allowed more than 1 million pounds of illegal fireworks to be stored in the warehouse, according to prosecutors. Machado then used his position in the sheriff’s department to avoid liability for the illegal fireworks operation.
The former lieutenant greatly expanded his illegal fireworks business, with the warehouse growing from 13 fireworks storage containers in 2015 to 50 in 2025, the Associated Press reported. reported.
“Samuel Machado’s involvement involved using his role as a trusted lieutenant to help protect the conspiracy as it expanded, and the expansion was significant,” Yolo County deputy district attorney Clara Nabity said at a news conference.
Machado’s wife, Tammy Machado, was also arrested and has since been released on bail. Tammy faces multiple charges, including mortgage fraud and child endangerment, for illegally storing explosives near a family pool, the Longmont Daily Times-Call reported, citing the criminal complaint.
Others charged stored or sold fireworks outside Machado’s facility.
“This isn’t just about fireworks,” Nabity said. “These are devices that contain much more explosive fireworks than the law allows and cannot be considered fireworks.”
