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Autopsy Confirms Mini Cannon Strike Killed Maine Man

Officials are scrutinizing regulatory gaps in private fireworks displays after the medical examiner identified the device that caused the death.

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Overview

  • Joseph Hennessey, 41, was struck by a projectile from a homemade “mini cannon” at a private gathering in Roxbury on July 26 and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
  • Neighbors reported hearing a loud bang and then saw emergency crews from the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, MedCare Ambulance Service and the Roxbury Fire Department arrive within minutes.
  • The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta conducted an autopsy that found the mini cannon projectile was the direct cause of Hennessey’s fatal injury.
  • The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit, joined by the State Fire Marshal’s Office, is leading an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of the display and the device’s construction.
  • This incident is only the second fireworks-related death in Maine in the past decade, highlighting concerns over oversight and safety protocols for unregulated private displays.