in which one shell blew up in the air and rained shrapnel onto police vehicles parked nearby,
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon during an M777 Howitzer display marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. No injuries were reported, but the explosion which happened as artillery was fired over Interstate 5, about 40 miles north of San Diego prompted sharp criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who called it a “reckless” and “profoundly absurd show of force.”
According to a California Highway Patrol (CHP) report, a patrol car and a motorcycle parked near a freeway on-ramp for Vance’s security detail were hit by fragments from the shell. A 2-inch piece of shrapnel dented the hood of the patrol car, while smaller pieces scattered nearby. Following the blast, the Marines immediately halted the exercise, cancelling the planned 60-round demonstration.
The CHP had earlier shut down a 17-mile stretch of I-5 as a precaution, but the mishap still caused major traffic disruptions across the region. CHP border division chief Tony Coronado described the situation as “unusual and concerning,” noting that live-fire exercises over active highways are extremely rare.
Camp Pendleton has yet to comment, while a U.S. official confirmed that a full investigation is underway. The White House said on X that Marines had assured there were “no public safety concerns” linked to the exercise.
