Suspect wanted for Pleasant Hill firework incident turns himself in

PLEASANT HILL, CA (May 9, 2023) — Police in Pleasant Hill have reported that a 15 year-old boy came into the PH Police Department with his parent on May 5, 2023.

The family provided a voluntary statement confirming the boy appeared in the photographs and video circulated in an ongoing investigation. The images showed the boy leaving an explosive firework on the Pleasant Hill Middle School campus. A 14 year-old student later found that device and was severely injured.

This case will be taken to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office for review.

The Pleasant Hill Police Department appreciates the assistance provided by the community and the press throughout this investigation.

On Monday, April 17, the PHPD dispatchers received calls reporting an explosion near Contra Costa Boulevard. When officers arrived on location, paramedics were already on the scene. They provided treatment for a 14-year old boy with significant injuries sustained to his hand after lighting a firework. Paramedics took him to Children’s Hospital Oakland by ambulance.

Police investigators determined that the illegal firework had been found on the Pleasant Hill Middle School campus earlier that same day.

Campus video surveillance footage showed an unknown male suspect bringing the illegal firework onto school grounds on Sunday, April 16, at around 2pm. While no children or others were present, the suspect walked into one of the outdoor hallways, placed the firework on the ground, and lit it. Although the firework initially ignited, it did not detonate. The suspect then walked off campus, leaving the unexploded firework behind.

The following day, that unexploded illegal firework was found and was taken off of school property by the juvenile student. While on an off-campus walking path, the juvenile lit the device and it detonated in his hand.