26-Year-Old Man Killed by Exploding Cannon at Mich. Baby Shower

Evan Silva.Photo: Go Fund Me

Police said that the cannon was “designed to create a big flash, a loud noise and create smoke,” but likely fractured after it was loaded with gun powder.

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The home’s owner bought the cannon from an auction, and had fired it “several times” before, the release said.

“The problem with things like this is when you use gunpowder and you’re using some sort of device without regular inspections on them, you may not see a hairline fracture in that device,” Lt. Liz Rich toldThe New York Times. “There may have been too much gunpowder in there — that’s what our bomb squad suspects, that that’s the reason the entire thing exploded.”

The incident remains under investigation, and will be sent to the Genesee County Prosecutor for review.

AGoFundMe pageorganized to help Silva’s family with his funeral arrangements has so far raised more than $8,000.

“On 2/6/21 we lost Evan Silva to a sudden fatal accident. He left behind many family members and friends who greatly miss him and are grieving,” the page read.

Though the cannon was not set off as part of a “gender reveal,” the practice has made headlines in recent months for being the cause of several deadly accidents and sparking wildfires.

source: people.com