New York Man Killed When Gender Reveal Device Explodes

Dad-to-be Christopher Pekny of upstate New York was killed in a gender reveal device explosion Sunday as he was building the device that was to be used at a party. New York State Police report the incident happened Sunday morning in Liberty, New York where Pekny was working on the device.

Michael Pekny, Christopher's brother, was also injured in the explosion that's under investigation by the New York State Police Bomb Disposal Unit.

"We are deeply saddened and must inform you all of the loss of our dear an beloved Christopher. We appreciate the overwhelming display of love and support that you all have shown," the Robin Hood Diner, owned by the Pekny family wrote on Facebook.

According to the New York Times, the "device consisted of some kind of pipe that was intended to be used at a gender-reveal party, but the nature of its explosive material was not yet known," a NY State Police spokesman told the newspaper.

Peter Pekny Jr. told the newspaper that Christopher was “very mechanically inclined” and added that this was a freak accident.

This is now the second gender reveal device explosion death this month. A Michigan man was killed when a cannon-like device exploded at a residence outside Flint. In that incident, gun powder loaded into the cannon created a “fracture, resulting in shrapnel being spread in the area,” the Michigan State Police reported.