SAN DIEGO — The Marines Corps has launched an investigation after the California Highway Patrol said shrapnel from an artillery shell, fired during a live-fire demonstration touted by the White House, struck a law enforcement vehicle.
No injuries were reported when an artillery round “detonated overhead prematurely” during Saturday’s 250th anniversary celebration for the Marines Corps at Camp Pendleton, the highway patrol said.
“The Marine Corps says it’s an established and safe practice.
The Marine Corps says it’s part of routine training at Camp Pendleton.” Dreibelbis, the Marine spokesman, said safety protocols were observed.
Dreibelbis said the Marine Corps has launched an investigation and wants to learn from the incident, as well.
SAN DIEGO — Following reports from the California Highway Patrol that a law enforcement vehicle was struck by shrapnel from an artillery shell fired during a White House-promoted live-fire demonstration, the Marines Corps has opened an investigation.
An artillery round “detonated overhead prematurely” during Saturday’s Marine Corps 250th anniversary celebration at Camp Pendleton, but no one was hurt, according to the highway patrol.
But according to a statement released by the highway patrol on Sunday, at least one of its patrol cars, which were available to assist in stopping and rerouting traffic on Interstate 5 through the base during the demonstration, was damaged.
CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado, who also identified himself as a Marine, said in the statement, “This was an unusual and concerning situation.”. Explosive training exercises and live fires over active freeways are extremely rare. “.”.
Captain. Officials “are aware of the report of a possible airborne detonation of a 155mm artillery round outside the designated impact area” during Saturday’s Marine Corps amphibious capabilities demonstration, according to a statement released by I Marine Expeditionary Force spokesperson Gregory Dreibelbis on Sunday.
Images from a CHP incident report depict several pieces of ammunition and a black-and-white unit with a hood that appears to have been pierced by shrapnel. The fragment on the hood, according to the report, was about 2 inches by 2 inches. The car was struck at Interstate 5 and Las Pulgas Road, which is located on the northernmost coast of San Diego County, almost a mile north of the Red Beach protest, according to a CHP map.
Additionally, a motorcycle officer discovered a piece that was roughly 1 inch by 0.5 inches close to his own car, according to the report.
According to the CHP, the strike occurred while officers were momentarily stopping traffic on the freeway to keep drivers safe during the protest.
Governor of California. In the days preceding Saturday’s festivities, which were attended by Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who both spoke at the event, Gavin Newsom had voiced his disapproval of the plan to fire live munitions over the interstate.
Newsom, a Democrat who has frequently clashed with the Trump administration, had expressed disapproval of the possible consequences of temporarily closing the Interstate 5, which handles 80,000 vehicles every day. He also claimed that state officials were not given enough warning about a risky and “absurd show of force.”. “.”.
“Someone might have died as a result of this,” Newsom stated on X Sunday.
When asked about the CHP’s report of a shrapnel strike, Newsom spokesperson Diana Crofts-Pelayo also cited a post on the governor’s office’s X account: “We love our Marines and owe a debt of gratitude to Camp Pendleton, but the Vice President and the White House shouldn’t be so reckless with people’s lives for their vanity projects next time.”. “..”.
A request for comment on Sunday was not immediately answered by the White House.
Officials in the Trump administration had described the protests and the ensuing freeway closure as an overreaction in the run-up to Saturday’s festivities.
“Gavin Newsom wants people to believe that this exercise is dangerous,” Vance’s communications director, William Martin, told The New York Times in a statement. It’s a safe and well-established practice, according to the Marine Corps. Newsom wishes for this to be perceived as a ridiculous display of force. The Marine Corps says it’s part of routine training at Camp Pendleton. “”.
According to Marine spokesman Dreibelbis, safety procedures were followed.
According to safety procedures, live fire was put out on Saturday. “The demonstration underwent a rigorous safety evaluation, and deliberate layers of redundancy, to ensure the safety of fellow citizens,” he said.
In addition to conducting a review, the CHP stated that it wants to improve communication with federal officials. The Marine Corps, according to Dreibelbis, has opened an investigation and hopes to gain insight from the event.
“We are dedicated to identifying the underlying cause of the incident and implementing the results in subsequent missions,” he stated.
