Arrest Made in High School Dry Ice Explosion That Hurt 4-Year-Old

The child suffered non-life-threating injuries to his chest

Police on Friday arrested a teenage boy in connection with a dry ice explosion at the Paramount High School West Campus that injured a 4-year-old boy one day earlier, officials said.

On Thursday, Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies responded to the 14700 block of Paramount Boulevard in Paramount about 7:50 p.m. after receiving a call regarding a child injured by fireworks.

Upon arrival, police discovered the child suffering non-life-threating injuries to his chest. Pieces of a plastic bottle were found near the boy.

The boy was at the school with his family for recreational soccer activities.

Investigators discovered that the boy picked up a two-liter plastic bottle that exploded in his hand as he ran across the baseball field. The explosion caused minor abrasions to the boy’s chest and left forearm, according to the LA County Sheriff’s Department.

The boy was taken to a hospital and later released.

On Friday, officials arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the explosion, according to a news release by the LASD. He lived near the area where the soda bottle exploded, officials said.

Investigators recovered evidence that suggests a chemical reaction involving dry ice.

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