Two teens arrested after boy, 7, is burned in Roman candle 'war'

A 7-year-old boy was burned early Monday morning during a fireworks battle that landed two teenagers in jail, San Bernardino County officials said.

Deputies were called to a field on Wier Road East near the Loma Linda border just before 2 a.m. after several people reported fireworks in the area, San Bernardino County sheriff's officials reported. There, deputies found two 18-year-olds — one who initially ran away but was later arrested — and a 7-year-old.

The teenagers, identified as Nicholas Ibarra and Jaliyl Vazquez, both of San Bernardino, had agreed to meet at the field about 1:30 a.m. to shoot off fireworks, officials said. At one point, the two began shooting Roman candles at each other.

"During this 'war,' the 7-year-old was hit by a Roman candle," the department said.

The boy had a burn on his left arm, authorities said. Vazquez told deputies he'd brought the boy along to watch the fireworks.

Vazquez and Ibarra were arrested on suspicion of child cruelty and taken to the San Bernardino County Jail. Only Ibarra, who authorities said had a bag containing five alprazolam pills at the time of his arrest and thus faces an additional charge of possession of a controlled substance, remained in custody Monday afternoon.

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— Kate Mather
twitter.com/katemather