7-4-07
An 8-year-old boy was killed over the fourth of July Weekend, after a small cannon exploded as it was fired during a fourth of July family gathering. The accident occurred at the home of the victims grandfather, about six miles south of Olympia, in Washington state.

Investigators were trying to determine how the cannon was
manufactured.  It was reported to be about 1 1/2 feet long with a barrel that was 3 and a half inches in diameter. Yet this small cannon packed enough power to hurl deadly shrapnel at the boy, who was standing about 100 feet away when it happened. The child died from shrapnel piercings at a local hospital about an hour and a half later.

Other debris was thrown as far as 234 feet, according to the sheriff’s office. Nine adults and seven children were at the party, including the boys parents. As tragic as this accident was, it’s amazing that others weren’t killed or seriously injured. Investigators found a large stash of unexploded fireworks, and were trying to determine whether or not any of them or the cannon were illegal.