HOLLAND, Mich. — Editor's note: The video above is from our coverage of the explosion on July 7, 2023.
A judge sentenced a Holland man to 1 year in jail and probation for setting off a "salute cannon" that sent shrapnel flying into a busy Fourth of July crowd last July, killing one woman.
Anthony Meyer will serve 36 months of probation and will also complete 100 hours of community service, the judge said Monday.
He took a plea deal in January.
In Michigan, those convicted of involuntary manslaughter can be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison and face fines as much as $7,500.
Meyer set off a "salute cannon" that had gunpowder in it on the night of July 3, 2023.
These types of devices are intended to create a loud boom when ignited.
A crowd was watching a private fireworks display in the 1700 block of Main Street in Park Township, near Holland, when the homemade cannon exploded, sending pieces of shrapnel into the crowd.
At least five vehicles and three homes were damaged in the explosion. Police say that some shrapnel and metal pieces went through the walls and windows of the nearby homes.
Jana Daniels, 41, was killed as a result.
Daniels was recently hired as a teacher and got a new apartment in the Holland area. She's from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and passed away just 17 days shy of her 42nd birthday, according to her obituary. She leaves behind a 9-year-old son.
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