Four More Arrested In New Year’s Fireworks Explosion
A total of six people have been arrested in connection with the explosion that killed five people.
Honolulu police arrested four more people on Wednesday afternoon in connection with a deadly New Year’s fireworks explosion in a Honolulu neighborhood.
Jessica Ferrer, 38, and Cedric Benigno, 35, were arrested on suspicion of four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and one count of reckless endangering. Daniel Combis, 32, and Sherri Ho, 29, were arrested on suspicion of two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and one count of reckless endangering.
All four were also charged with three fireworks-related citations — , renter or person otherwise responsible for property for allowing anyone to possess or set off fireworks on the premises; a , purchasing, selling or making fireworks; and importing, storing, selling or possessing fireworks or permit.
A spokeswoman for the Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office said prosecutors could not comment on the case.
All four people arrested Wednesday were residents of the home at 4144 Keaka Drive, where the explosion occurred, Honolulu police Lt. Deena Thoemmes said during a press conference Thursday.
The arrests came five days after police made two arrests in connection with the incident in Honolulu’s Salt Lake neighborhood. Ruben Mateo, 33, and Jewel Cabras, 33, were arrested Friday on suspicion of reckless endangering, endangering the welfare of a minor and three other fireworks offenses. Cabras and Mateo did not live at the Keaka Drive home, according to Thoemmes.
Thoemmes would not confirm relationships between those arrested and any of the injured or deceased victims, but she said the six people who have been arrested are three couples. All were attending the gathering with their minor children.
Many witnesses have not cooperated with police and some have provided false statements to investigators, Thoemmes said. Those who’ve given false statements could be charged with hindering a prosecution.
Five hundred pounds of fireworks were recovered from the carport of the home, as well as vehicles belonging to people who attended the party. That total doesn’t include the fireworks that were set off. Thoemmes said police are still investigating where the fireworks were purchased from.
Additional arrests are forthcoming, she said.
The death toll from the New Year’s explosion has risen to five after one of the burn victims, 29-year-old Kevin Vallesteros, died at a hospital in Phoenix on Tuesday.
The other victims who died as a result of the blast are Nelie Ibarra, 58; Carmelita Benigno, 61; Jennifer Van, 23; and Cassius Ramos-Benigno, 3. All four died in Honolulu. More than 20 other people were injured in the blast.
Political leaders and community members have been calling on authorities to crack down on fireworks offenders since the incident.
Gov. Josh Green and Attorney General Anne Lopez have proposed legislative changes would allow anyone charged in a fireworks incident causing serious injury or death to be charged with a class A or class B felony. Class A is the most serious offense and encompasses crimes such as murder and attempted murder.
The potential charges for those arrested in connection with the New Year’s blast — endangering the welfare of a minor and reckless endangering — are class C felonies. The fireworks citations can carry fines of up to $5,000.
