Artillery Shell Detonated Over Interstate 5 During Marines' Celebration, California Officials Say

[highplainsdem]

Source: NYT

A 155-millimeter shell fired during a live-fire demonstration for the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton on Saturday prematurely detonated, dropping fragments of the shell on a California Highway Patrol vehicle and motorcycle that were part of Vice President JD Vance’s protective detail, according to a patrol report.

No officers were hurt in the mishap, which dropped shrapnel onto the vehicles parked on a ramp to a major freeway that had been ordered closed by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The governor had objected to the plan to fire over the freeway, Interstate 5, and ordered a 17-mile stretch closed — against the guidance of military officials, who had said it was safe for it to remain open.

According to the patrol report, one officer described what sounded like pebbles hitting his motorcycle and the area around him, and two others saw a two-inch piece of shrapnel hit the hood of their patrol vehicle, leaving a small dent. The report says shrapnel was also found on the road near the motorcycle.

-snip-

The exercise — which the report said was expected to include the firing of approximately 60 155-millimeter shells — was terminated after the round prematurely exploded, the patrol said. Patrol officers cleared the interstate of shell fragments before the highway was declared safe and reopened to vehicular traffic at 2:20 p.m.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/19/us/politics/shell-interstate-5-marines-california.html

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The artillery round had been fired at 1:46, just 16 minutes after the exercise had been scheduled to start (though I don't know if it had started on time).

Editing to add that an active-duty Marine officer and a former officer told the NYT that the only such training exercises they'd ever seen had been EAST of the interstate, on approved artillery ranges.

[Bayard]

1. Too bad it missed Vance

[slightlv]

3. I was thinking the same thing...

I'd been hoping for a major "artillery accident" without casualties to wake people up to the damage, disaster, and danger this man and is policy minions are to the country. Still... at least there WAS this.

[BlueMTexpat]

23. I'm ashamed to

say that was also one of my first thoughts!

[Irish_Dem]

2. US Marines should be ashamed of themselves.

They work for the GD American people.
And they are shooting missiles at civilians on American soil.

GD bastards.

[stopdiggin]

8. well, not exactly AT civilians

there's plenty of room for outrage - while still attempting to be somewhat accurate.

[Irish_Dem]

10. I am dumbfounded at your comment.

GD Marines shooting missiles, shells, whatever at GD CIVILIAN HIGHWAYS
ON AMERICAN SOIL.

JFC. This is disgusting and pretending otherwise is absurd.

[stopdiggin]

21. and, again - not shooting AT a highway

Last edited Mon Oct 20, 2025, 11:47 AM - Edit history (1)

'toward' - 'over' - 'in the general direction' ... All might serve your purpose better.

(what the military was 'targeting' was fairly well explained in the run up.)

[SunSeeker]

12. If you're shooting toward the 5 Freeway, you are shooting AT civilians.

The 5 Freeway is an 8-lane major artery between L.A. and San Diego that runs along the beach on the western edge of Camp Pendleton. On Saturdays, especially at midday, it is a parking lot. Shrapnel would have rained over hundreds of stopped cars, trucks and motorcycles. I am one of those people who drives down to San Diego on a Saturday afternoon, to see family. And just south of Camp Pendleton is the very populated town of Oceanside. An errant shell/shrapnel could easily hit Oceanside. It is absolutely insane to blast shells toward the 5. Whoever approved that should be court martialed.

Thank God Newsom shut the 5 down. But the shells/shrapnel still could have gone to Oceanside, or strayed north and hit a surfer at San Onofre.

[BigmanPigman]

16. I watched Adam Mocker's report about this today

Then I read an article about it in a local paper. The newspaper never even mentioned that some shit fell and hit the ground and Vance's security detail. That's the MSM for you!

We REALLY hate Vance in San Diego. I loved it when people in my neighborhood got the word that Vance was eating expensive sushi while Texas was flooded and nailed him when he was leaving the restaurant on Adams Ave in University Heights.

?si=kTf07DMBRmIADhAi

[SunSeeker]

17. San Diegans are generally good people who vote Dem.

[stopdiggin]

22. agreed. extremely ill advised (and I believe they were so counseled)

And still - not shooting AT civilians. They are shooting AT go-fast boats in the Caribbean. There is a difference. And a fairly distinct one.

[StoolPigeon]

11. 250 years of respect

Down the toilet in just months.

[Irish_Dem]

25. I am so glad my USAF career military father is not alive to see this.

He used to say that the Air Force signed his paycheck
but he worked for the American people.

For him to see the US Marines attack Americans on US soil would blow his mind.
And not in a good way.

[Deminpenn]

4. The Marine Corps birthday is Nov 10

It is quite a big deal every single year.

[Champp]

5. Republicans bomb America

because they are so corrupt, weak, and deceitful.

I feel bad for Jesus, having these darkside assclowns lying about being true followers

[JoseBalow]

6. Looks like Newsom made the right decision

Good looking out, Gov!

[underpants]

7. They fired over the 5?

[SunSeeker]

13. Right? They fired over the 5 on a Saturday, when it's super crowded!

There should be a congressional investigation and heads should roll over this.

Thank God Newsom shut the 5 down and nobody was hurt.

[70sEraVet]

9. We bury dead war heroes with the firing of blanks by the Honor Guard.

Why do we need live artillery for a visiting Vice President?

[Crowman2009]

14. That was Cpl. Vance's idea.

If I had picked MCAS Cherry Pt. as my next duty station around the same time he arrived, he wouldn't be VP.

[littlemissmartypants]

19. Zing! 🪄💫

[Journeyman]

15. Trump wanted to shutter a main arterial freeway during No Kings protests . . .

in hopes it would disrupt people plans and the rallies in San Diego and Orange County / Los Angeles wouldn't be as successful.

What he didn't understand is how many diverse gatherings there were all day, so even if someone couldn't make it to San Diego, they could attend any one of dozens of other events planned throughout the Southland.

[littlemissmartypants]

20. In case we miss the first time? 🤪

[littlemissmartypants]

18. Hahaha 😆 just desserts. ❤️

I am going to ask dog for forgiveness now. I hope no voting democrats, other animals or children were harmed as a result.

[Buddyzbuddy]

24. I wonder how Daryll Issa feels about getting gerrymandered out?

He represents a portion in that area. FAFO.

[Botany]

26. No excuse for this kind of shit.

Who gave the order to fire a 155 shell across I 5? This was a warning shot about what is gonna
happen to all of America under our new fascist dictatorship.

[Jim__]

27. This demonstration was just plain idiocy. Why would anyone want to do this?

[kerouac2]

28. Saved us $177k... Or enough to feed about 600 americans for a month with SNAP

60 shells? They were going to spend as much as 180000 bucks on this? Wth?

The U.S. M795 high explosive shell, the most basic type of 155mm shell, costs around $3,000, according to an Army spokesperson.

So 177000 saved by not firing the other 59 shells would cover almost 600 Americans on SNAP for a month.