The Honolulu Police Department arrested four more people on Wednesday in connection with the New Year’s Day fireworks explosion in Aliamanu that killed five people, including a 3-year-old boy, and injured about 20 others.
Jessica Ferrer, 38, Cedric Benigno, 35, Daniel Combis, 32, and Sherri Ho, 29, were arrested for endangering the welfare of a minor, reckless endangering, and multiple fireworks related offenses. The four people arrested live in the Aliamanu home where the explosion occurred, according to Lt. Deena Thoemmes, who spoke at a news conference on Thursday.
On New Year’s Eve, Ferrer and Benigno attended the gathering at their home with their four minor children. All four children were injured in the explosion. The children were transported to a nearby hospital where they were treated for their injuries and later released, according to Thoemmes. Combis and Ho also attended the gathering at their home with their two minor children, who were not injured in the fireworks explosion.
HPD recovered about 500 pounds of unused illegal fireworks from the carport of the Aliamanu home and from vehicles belonging to individuals at the New Year’s Eve party. This total does not include the fireworks that went off on the night of the explosion.
Thoemmes said some of the people who were at the gathering have been uncooperative in the investigation, refusing to provide statements, while other individuals provided false statements to detectives.
“Hindering prosecution is a crime, and those who do so will face charges,” said Thoemmes.
More arrests are still expected, added Thoemmes.
The four arrests on Wednesday are in addition to two people arrested Friday in connection with the fireworks explosion. Ruben Mateo, 33, and Jewel Cabras, 33, who were arrested last week have been released pending investigation.
HPD is working with the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney to charge the people who were arrested.
Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.
Editor's note: This story was updated with information from the news conference on Thursday. (Jan. 30, 2025)
