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GAINES TWP., MI – The victim of a cannon that exploded at a Genesee County baby shower on Saturday night has been identified by police.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident which occurred around 7:30 p.m. on February 6 in Gaines Township, about 14 miles southwest of Flint.
The explosion killed Evan Thomas Silva, a 26-year-old man from Hartland in Livingston County, according to a press release from Michigan State Police.
Related: Man dies after Michigan baby shower explosion
Silva was a participant in a baby shower where the owner fired a small cannon-type device into the backyard to celebrate the baby’s imminent arrival, police said.
The cannon exploded as it fired, spreading shards of metal that hit Silva, as well as three parked cars and the garage where the baby shower was standing.
Silva was standing 10 to 15 feet away from the explosion, police said. He was taken to Hurley Medical Center in Flint where he later died of his injuries.
He was one of five people outside the residence where the cannon was fired and was the only one struck by shrapnel, police said.
The cannon was designed to fire more like a novelty signal cannon, which is intended to emit a large flash, loud noise and smoke, police said.
The owner had purchased the barrel from an auction and fired it several times before the incident happened.
The suspected cause of the explosion was gunpowder loaded into the device which caused the barrel to fracture, leaving space for the shrapnel to spread, police said.
Michigan State Police Bomb Squad, Gaines Township Fire Department and Med Star Ambulance assisted soldiers at the scene.
An investigation into the incident is underway. Details of the case will be sent to the Genesee County prosecutor for review once the investigation is complete.
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