On Thursday, April 9, a man was arrested at Walt Disney World in connection with a deadly fireworks explosion in California in July 2025.
Kenneth Chee, owner of Devastating Pyrotechnics, was arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday in connection with a warehouse explosion in Yolo County, California, that killed seven people in July 2025. According to WESH2, Chee was arrested at 351 Studio Drive in Bay Lake, which is an address that corresponds to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Per the outlet, the authorities indicated that the company and property on which the warehouse stood did not have the necessary local permits to store fireworks. According to Orange County jail records, Chee is facing multiple counts, including seven murder counts, one count of conspiracy, and another for illegally possessing explosives. He was arrested on a fugitive warrant.
Chee is being held at Orange County Jail.
WESH2 notes that six other individuals have also been arrested as part of this explosion investigation:
Samuel Machado
Tammy Machado
Jack Y. Lee
Gary Young Chan Jr.
Craig Cutright
Ronald Botelho II
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