Arkansas Teen Dies After Holding Firework Meant to be Set Off on Ground During 4th of July Celebrations
An Arkansas teenager died after setting off a firework in his hand during Fourth of July celebrations earlier this month.
Jacksyn Smith, 13, allegedly held a firework meant to be launched on the ground, as reported by People. The teen was airlifted to the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Jonesboro, Ark., where he was later pronounced deceased.
“It felt like a bad dream,” Smith’s uncle, Wade McCollum, told local news outlet Action News 5. “To know Jacksyn was to love him, if you were around him you were laughing, smiling, doing everything.”
A GoFundMe has since been launched to help the family cover funeral costs and provide financial assistance. As of print the fundraiser has amassed over $18,200 of its $20,000 goal.
“No parent should ever have to endure the unimaginable pain of losing a child, especially so suddenly,” the fundraiser’s description read. “Your love, support, and kindness mean more than words can express as they navigate this heartbreaking loss.”
Smith’s grandmother, Angela Perdew, emphasized the importance of fireworks safety when speaking with Action News 5. “Our Fourth of July will never be the same … never,” Perdew told the outlet.
The 2026 Fourth of July celebrations across the United States were overshadowed by several tragic incidents involving fireworks, gun violence, and traffic accidents.
In Kentucky, a 4-year-old boy was killed after a cake-style firework tipped over and struck him during a family celebration, while in Arkansas, a 13-year-old boy died after sustaining critical injuries from a firework he was reportedly holding. In California, a father lost his hand after a suspected homemade explosive detonated while he was clearing fireworks debris from a beach.
