Fatal Fireworks Warehouse Explosion: Five Charged with Murder

Fri Apr 10 2026 22:09:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

An explosion in Northern California resulting in seven deaths has led to murder charges against five individuals, including a former sheriff's lieutenant and firework company owners.

In a tragic incident in Woodland, California, a fireworks warehouse explosion killed seven people and has led to the indictment of five individuals on murder charges. Among the accused are Samuel Machado, a former Yolo County Sheriff lieutenant, and Kenneth Chee, owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics. The grand jury's findings reveal the explosive capabilities of the fireworks stored were beyond legal limits, categorizing them as dangerous devices. The community has since altered Fourth of July celebrations following the disaster.

WOODLAND, Calif. — Following a catastrophic explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Northern California that left seven individuals dead, authorities have leveled murder charges against five people, derived from a grand jury's verdict.

The incident, which occurred near the rural community of Esparto, sparked a massive fire and resulted in the cancellation of nearby Fourth of July festivities.

Charged is Samuel Machado, the warehouse owner and a former lieutenant with the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office. Another key figure, Kenneth Chee, the owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, whose unlicensed fireworks were stored at the site, has been arrested in Florida pending extradition to California.

Jack Lee, operations manager at Devastating Pyrotechnics, and Gary Chan Jr., whose name appears on the company’s federal license, are also facing murder charges. A fifth individual, Douglas Tollefson, remains at large.

Yolo County Deputy District Attorney Clara Nabity emphasized, This is not merely a case about fireworks; the devices involved had explosive capabilities far exceeding what is legally permissible.\

The total number of those facing charges has reached eight, encompassing serious allegations such as murder and conspiracy, all tied to the tragic explosion.

Alongside Machado, Chee, and others, Craig Cutright, owner of Blackstar Fireworks, has been implicated. Cutright, also a volunteer firefighter, has been arrested, bringing to light a complex web of accountability.

Witness testimonies depict the explosion's devastating impact—doors bulging from their frames and an overwhelming wave felt by nearby residents.

We heard a tremendous boom; I thought it was a bomb, recounted local resident Nisa Gutierrez.

As the community grieves, officials from Sutter and Yuba counties are reassessing their Fourth of July plans, given the destruction of available fireworks.