Loved ones mourn child, family killed in Aliamanu fireworks tragedy
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - The fourth victim killed in the Aliamanu fireworks explosion tragedy has been identified as 3-year-old Cassius Ramos-Benigno, and loved ones say the little boy was a part of a family that will never be the same.
All four victims were identified Monday, both by loved ones and the Honolulu Medical Examiner.
A family friend said at least three of the victims are related.
Six days after the massive fireworks explosion sent more than 20 people to hospitals across Oahu, Junior Benigno remains hospitalized with extensive burns.
On Monday, the medical examiner announced his son Cassius was the fourth fatality.
Junior’s friend Jay says the last time he saw him and Cassius was about a month ago at Restaurant 604 in Pearl Harbor.
“We started looking at the boats at 604, and he was naming what color the water was, what color the boat was, I never thought that would be the last time I see him,” Jay said.
Jay recalled how close Cassius was to his dad, calling Junior “his partner in crime.”
“You wouldn’t see my boy without his son. They were hand in hand,” he said.
Junior’s mother and aunty — Lita Benigno and Nelie Ibarra, 58 — also died just days earlier.
The medical examiner also said one of the four victims is 23-year-old Jennifer Van.
Meanwhile, six fireworks patients are getting care at a burn unit in Arizona while 9 patients with more severe burns are being treated at the Straub Benioff Medical Center’s specialized burn unit in Hawaii.
“This is what we do on normal basis. We take care of very severe burns,” said Dr. David Cho with specialized burn unit.
“What’s different of course is the severe number.”
Straub confirms the most severe and complex patients from the fireworks explosion remain at its burn unit and it has the resources to provide long-term care.
Through it all, the community has been weighing in on the incident. Some comments online offering thoughts and prayers, while others point blame at the families for being at the party with illegal fireworks. Even Hawaii’s governor, saying manslaughter charges need to be looked at.
It’s all chatter that Jay feels is inappropriate while his friend remains in the hospital.
“Losing your son, having your fiancée in a medical induce coma, losing your mom, having your sister burned 90% beyond recognition is enough consequence that they have to live with for the rest of their life,” he said.
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