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Two Men Killed, Teen Injured In Separate Fireworks Accidents In Broward

POMPANO BEACH (CBSMiami) - Loved ones of a father killed while celebrating Independence Day gathered for a vigil Friday night in Pompano Beach.

"I love you and you'll always be in my heart. It's hard to say goodbye. I love you. I'll never stop loving you," a neighbor said.

Tavarese Hamilton, 31, died while celebrating the Fourth of July outside his home on Northwest 5th Street.

"He was a loving and kind man. He would help you if you needed help," Kyren Powell said.

Hamilton's 10-year-old niece is heartbroken over the loss of her uncle.

Pompano Beach Fire said Hamilton places a PVC pipe partially in the ground. He then put a three-inch mortar shell inside. He then lit it but didn't move out the way fast enough.

"Nobody is doing good right now. We just have to try to pull ourselves together. It's just tragic," Calvin Hamilton said.

That's the victim's brother.

Firefighters said they were also busy nearby with another incident involving fireworks.

"They are highly explosive materials and you don't know what you're getting when you buy it off the street. You just don't know what you're getting," Spokesperson Sandra King said.

A firework blew up in a 15-year-old boy's hand and he lost two fingers. This happened along Northeast 2nd Terrace. He's now recovering. His condition is unknown.

In Fort Lauderdale, first responders handled another deadly incident involving fireworks. 32-year-old Gevins Caty died on Independence Day.

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