LOS ANGELES (AP) — During a live fire demonstration held last October at Camp Pendleton, a rare malfunction resulted in an artillery shell misfiring and showering shrapnel on Interstate 5, striking two California Highway Patrol vehicles. A subsequent investigation by the U.S. Marine Corps reported the incident as a ‘one in a million’ occurrence.
The demonstration marked the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps and was attended by significant figures including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The unexpected detonation at approximately 1,480 feet created a dangerous situation as shrapnel landed on a closed roadway that was part of the celebratory event.
Although the report indicated no clear reason for the early detonation of the M795 high explosive round, officials noted that the manufacturing tolerance for such munitions is typically one defect per million units. The investigation absolved any corps members of negligence or wrongdoing. In response to the incident, U.S. House members from California, along with the state's senators, expressed their concerns about the decision to conduct live artillery fire over a highway and sought accountability from military officials.
The live fire exercise, which typically occurs on designated military ranges, included mixed responses from local political leaders. California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the decision, calling it unnecessarily dangerous, and suggested that the spectacle was primarily orchestrated for the entertainment of Trump administration officials amidst planned protests. Newsom stated that firing live rounds above a busy highway posed a significant threat to public safety.
Witness accounts from CHP officers described the sound of shrapnel impacting their vehicles, prompting immediate cessation of the demonstration. No injuries were reported, and the event led to heightened scrutiny over military protocols regarding live fire exercises, particularly near populous civilian areas.
As the aftermath of the incident continues to unfold, the Marine Corps has acknowledged the need for thorough reviews of safety measures in future demonstrations to prevent similar occurrences.
