Cannon tragedy at fireworks display kills 41-year-old man in front of horrified onlookers
Joseph Hennessey, of South Paris, had attended a fireworks display at a home in Roxbury on Saturday when he was hit with the projectile shortly before 9:30pm, according to Maine State Police.
'I heard a pretty big bang, which I thought was probably a cannon because I've heard them and I've seen them at different places that I've been at,' neighbor Kevin Boutin told KOAT.
Boutin said the fireworks show stopped after the cannon went off and that an ambulance arrived at the home shortly after.
Hennessey was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead.
An autopsy performed by the medical examiner confirmed that Hennessey died after being struck by the projectile.
His death remains under investigation.
Police did not provide additional information when contacted by the Daily Mail.
One of Hennessey's relatives declined to speak with the Daily Mail when contacted.
Certain fireworks are legal in the Pine Tree State, though items like M-80s, cherry bombs and bottle rockets are prohibited.
'Missile-type rockets' are also banned.
It's unclear what type of projectile killed Hennessey.
Last year, 17 people ranging in age from 13 to 93 were injured by fireworks in Maine, according to state data.
In July, a 13-year-old Missouri girl was tragically killed after a freak fireworks incident set her home ablaze.
That same month, an explosion at a fireworks warehouse in California left seven people dead.
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