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4d ago

Wichita Man Faces Felony Charges for Destroying Priceless War Cannon Over Meth Debt

Gordon Pierce III remains jailed after dismantling an 800-pound Spanish-American War cannon to settle a $20,000 drug debt, with arraignment set for May 22.

A crime scene investigator takes a photo and collects evidence after a cannon was stolen from the Spanish-American War monument in Central Riverside Park. The cannon was later recovered in pieces.
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Overview

  • Gordon Pierce III, a 37-year-old with a 20-year meth addiction, stole an 800-pound Spanish-American War cannon from Central Riverside Park on April 2, 2025, to pay off a $20,000 drug debt.
  • Pierce enlisted a homeless man, compensating him with meth, to help chain and drag the cannon before cutting it into pieces using a Sawzall over several hours.
  • Wichita police swiftly traced teal-colored drag marks to recover the cannon pieces from a friend's garage and Pierce's vehicle, leading to his arrest on April 3, 2025.
  • The cannon, forged in 1794 and installed in 1901, is considered irreplaceable and valued by historians as a priceless artifact of cultural heritage.
  • Pierce remains in Sedgwick County Jail on $200,000 bond, facing charges of theft, aggravated criminal damage to property, and possession of drug paraphernalia, with arraignment scheduled for May 22.