California: CCTV footage captures teens accused of throwing lit firework into baby nursery at Sacramento home

Three teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of arson after CCTV cameras captured the moment a lit firework was thrown through a window and into a baby nursery at a home in California.

The alleged attack unfolded on June 30 at a property in the town of Citrus Heights in Sacramento, where soon-to-be parents, Anthony Cadena and Leslie Morgan, had spent months preparing a baby room for their unborn son, Noah.

Police allege three juveniles deliberately targeted the home, with surveillance footage showing two teenage girls approaching an open window, lighting a firework and tossing it inside before fleeing while laughing.

Moments later smoke alarms began sounding as a mattress inside the room went up in flames.

Mr Cadena, who was home at the time, rushed to the room and used a garden hose to fight the flames until fire crews arrived.

Firefighters managed to extinguish the inferno but items and furnishings inside the nursery had already been destroyed by the blaze, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District said. Luckily nobody was injured.

Police claim the arson attack followed a prior disagreement involving a girl who lives at the home, ABC10 reports.

Devastated that the nursery had been incinerated one week before her little one’s expected arrival, Ms Morgan said she was in disbelief anyone would target a baby’s room.

“Seeing someone actually do that to someone’s house … they saw it was a baby room … just to see that these girls just don’t care about anything … it’s unbelievable, honestly, that they would do something like that,” she said.

Mr Cadena said the extent of the damage meant the couple would need to start from scratch.

“The whole baby’s room is torched. It’s done... all the rooms in the house are covered in soot... everything,” he said.

Mr Cadena’s sister, Kristy, has since set up a GoFundMe campaign to help raise money to repair the couple’s “severely damaged” room.

“My brother, Anthony, and his wife, Leslie, are preparing to welcome their baby in just two weeks. They had everything ready. The nursery was set up, and they were excited to bring baby Noah home,” Kristy wrote in fundraiser statement.

“Tragically, someone intentionally threw a firecracker through their window. It landed in the baby’s nursery and started a fire.

“The room was severely damaged, and everything they had prepared for their newborn was destroyed.

“The fire department responded quickly and was able to put out the fire, but they had to remove everything from the nursery because it was no longer usable.”

Photos shared to the fundraiser’s page show the charred remains of the room, with Kristy saying she is grateful for support and donations from people.

“As they prepare for the arrival of their baby, they are now faced with the unexpected expense of replacing the nursery, baby essentials, and repairing the damage to the room caused by the fire,” the post continued.

“Every donation, no matter the amount, will go toward replacing the baby’s furniture, clothing, diapers, and other necessities, as well as helping them recover from the damage.

“Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support during this incredibly difficult time.”