A 26-year-old man in Michigan died over the weekend after getting hit in the chest by shrapnel from a cannon that exploded at a baby shower, police said, per ABC News.
Michigan State Police say that an unnamed individual, a homeowner in Genesee County, fired a small cannon in the backyard on Saturday evening in celebration of the baby's impending birth.
"The homeowner had purchased the cannon at an auction prior to the event and had fired the cannon several times prior. The cannon is designed to create a big flash, a loud noise, and create smoke," state police said in a statement, per the outlet.
"[It was] Similar to a signal cannon," Michigan State Police Lt. Liz Rich said. "The cast material exploded and sent projectiles in all directions."
"The homeowner reported it had been shot several times," Rich added. "If there aren’t regular inspections on a device like this, the cast material can wear away. People are very creative in the gender reveals, but remember safety is always number one."
The cannon was said to explode and hit Evan Thomas Silva, 26, of Hartland, who was thought to be standing around 10 to 15 feet away, according to police. Also struck by the shrapnel were three parked vehicles and the garage where the baby shower took place.
"The cannon did not contain any projectiles, but it is suspected that the gun powder loaded into the device caused the cannon to fracture," the police said.
Silva was taken to Hurley Medical Center following the accident but, sadly, his injuries proved fatal, police have reported. At this point in time, it is unknown how the deceased was related to the individual who fired the cannon.
By the following day, balloons, a cooler, as well as a handmade chalkboard sign that read "baby shower", were still on display around the spot where Silva lost his life.
The police department has explained that the bomb squad and Gaines Township Fire Department responded to the fatal incident. Officials are carrying out an investigation and the case will be passed to the Genesee County Prosecutor for review, police say.
A fundraising page has been set up to cover the costs of Silva's funeral.
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