Gilbert police seek three persons of interest after firework injures five children

Gilbert police are asking for the public’s help identifying three persons of interest seen fleeing after a firework exploded at a backyard gathering and injured five children.

The incident happened just after 10 p.m. July 11 at a residence along Ocotillo Road near Freeman Farms Road, according to the Gilbert Police Department.

What police say happened

Police said a firework was thrown from Ocotillo Road into a backyard during a social gathering. When it exploded, five juvenile victims were injured.

Investigators later obtained nearby surveillance video showing three unidentified people running from the area immediately after the explosion, police said.

The people shown in the footage have not been publicly identified. The police appeal asks for information that could help investigators determine who they are; it does not announce arrests or confirmed identities.

How to contact police

Anyone with information about the incident can contact the Gilbert Police Department at 480-503-6500.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Gilbert’s official police tip portal. Police ask that callers reference case number 26-122095.

Investigation status

Gilbert police have not publicly confirmed the identities of the three people or announced charges or arrests in the sources reviewed for this report. The department’s public appeal remains focused on identifying the people seen leaving the area after the explosion.

Sources

• Gilbert Police Department public appeal
• Arizona’s Family report