Gardner home hit by shrapnel from neighbor's cannon

GARDNER, Mass, (WHDH) -- A holiday vacation turned out to be a lucky break for a Gardner family after their home was hit by shrapnel from a neighbor's homemade cannon.

The family returned home to find bits of shrapnel throughout their house and had no idea what had happened.

It was a homemade cannon that police say was part of a Gardner man's annual Fourth of July celebration that set off a big surprise for a neighbor who says his house took a hit.

“I couldn't believe it. Completely shocked. It's nothing I've dealt with before,” said Matt Williams, homeowner.

Matt Williams was away for the holiday when his family returned to their new home on Cleveland Street they found holes in the walls.

“Looking at a decent-sized hole in the kitchen and I could see all the way to the outside of the house. We found another hole behind the TV. Went outside saw two other holes in the house,” Williams said.

One hole was found near the baby's nursery, the other near the baby's swing. Police found shrapnel in Williams’ yard that seemed to fit the mystery holes.

Investigators say it came from the lot next door when a neighbor fired off a cannon. They believe the gesture was one man's Independence Day tradition.

“Thankfully a lot of myself and a lot of my neighbors weren't home at the time ‘cause someone could have easily gotten injured,” Williams said.

Police say the cannon owner will likely face charges but the situation is not a routine matter. Officers say they're still trying to sort out the law when it comes to backyard cannons.

“Whether or not you can have one of these things, whether you can discharge them, we know you can't send out a projectile in them if you can have them,” said Lt. John Bernard, Gardner Police Department.

The suspect could also face charges for the damages to Williams’ house.