13-year-old charged with attempted murder after firework explosion injures man in Wilmington

WILMINGTON, Del. (WPVI) -- Police in Wilmington, Delaware, say a 13-year-old has been charged with attempted murder after a firework explosion seriously injured a man.

It happened shortly after 10:30 p.m. on July 3 near Ninth and Pine streets.

Witnesses said a group of teenagers placed a firework in the back pocket of a sleeping man and watched it explode.

The 31-year-old man remains in critical condition, police said.

Surveillance video captured a loud boom and a flash of light at the scene.

Neighbors said the footage shows the moment a group of teens lit a firework after placing it in the man's pocket.

One witness, who did not want to be identified, said he tried to stop them.

"I was blowing my horn and other people were yelling, and they lit it and stuck it in his back buttocks pocket, and then it exploded," the witness said.

Additional surveillance footage showed the emergency response as police officers and firefighters rushed to the block.

Neighbors said the man had been sleeping on a porch stoop when a group of young teens repeatedly fired Roman candle fireworks at one another and at the man.

"They shot them at him, and they did this repetitively for about an hour," a witness said.

A 53-year-old woman was also injured during the incident. She was treated at a hospital and released.

Police announced Tuesday that they arrested a 13-year-old in connection with the investigation. Authorities said the juvenile is facing charges that include attempted murder.

Witnesses described the incident as frightening and expressed disappointment about the age of the suspect.

"They're coming at the youngest ages with the most disrespect," one witness said.

Police say the 13-year-old is being held at the New Castle County Detention Center on $255,000 cash-only bail.

The incident remains under investigation.