A 10-year-old girl lost several fingers on her left hand after an M-80 exploded in a park in Staten Island, New York. An employee of the city's Parks and Recreation Department was arrested and accused of giving him a lighter to activate the device.
The incident occurred around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday at General Douglas MacArthur Park. According to the authorities, the minor found the firework inside the park's bathroom and showed it to a municipal worker.
Investigators maintain that the employee, identified as Joshua Moe, 24, helped the girl turn on the device.
Moments later, witnesses heard a loud explosion near the bathrooms.
When police officers arrived at the scene, they found the minor with serious injuries to her left hand. Officers placed a tourniquet on her before rushing her to Staten Island University Hospital.
The girl remained in stable condition, but authorities confirmed that she suffered the loss of several fingers as a result of the explosion.
The minor said the employee lit the firework
According to investigators, the girl stated that Moe was the one who lit the firework before it exploded.
The employee would also have admitted to one of the agents that he gave the minor a lighter.
"I didn't think this would have happened. She wanted the lighter to light a firework; she wanted to make them happy and have fun," Moe said, according to information provided about the case.
Moe was arrested and faces charges of endangering the welfare of a minor and recklessly endangering another person.
The employee appeared in Staten Island criminal court on Wednesday. A judge granted him supervised release while the judicial process continues.
Residents question the adult's actions
The case generated criticism among residents of the area, especially for the participation of an adult in the manipulation of the device.
"She's okay. She's talking. She's hurt; she's confused," one resident said of the girl. The woman questioned whether the responsibility could fall solely on the minor due to her curiosity.
“Children are curious and you, as an adult, should know that sometimes you can't give in to that curiosity,” he said.
The resident added that the minor will have to face the consequences of the injuries for the rest of her life.
Authorities are keeping an open investigation to determine how M-80 ended up inside the park's bathroom.
