Live-fire round detonates early at Camp Pendleton…
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A U.S. Marine Corps live-fire demonstration on Sunday led to a premature detonation of an artillery round, scattering shrapnel near Interstate 5 and damaging a California Highway Patrol vehicle in Vice President JD Vance’s escort detail.
The incident occurred during an event commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton. Vice President Vance, War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other top officials were in attendance.
No Injuries Reported
Officials say no one was hurt — but a CHP patrol car was left with a dent from metal shards nearly two inches long. One motorcycle officer said he heard what sounded like pebbles hitting his bike, and investigators later found fragments scattered nearby.
Newsom Criticized Live-Fire Plans Beforehand
California Gov. Gavin Newsom had criticized the demonstration in advance, calling the use of live artillery near the freeway “reckless.” He opposed firing ordnance over or near the busy I-5 corridor, which runs along Camp Pendleton’s eastern boundary.
Following the incident, Gov. Gavin Newsom demanded an immediate apology from the administration, according to The Independent:
“The shrapnel that hit CHP (California Highway Patrol) vehicles over the weekend from Trump and Vance’s military live-munitions demonstration came from this ordnance. It’s no small thing,” Newsom’s press office wrote on social media after the explosion. “This is what the White House thought was fine to fly over civilians on a major freeway.”
He also reposted his office’s comments on his own account before taking another swipe at the government.
“Donald Trump and JD Vance put lives at risk to put on a show,” Newsom wrote. “If you want to honor our troops, open the government and pay them.”
The California Highway Patrol also weighed in on the military exercise in a public statement, with Tony Coroanado, the CHP Border Division Chief, describing the spectacle as both “unusual” and “concerning.”
“It is highly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway,” Coronado said. “As a Marine myself, I have tremendous respect for our military partners, but my foremost responsibility is ensuring the safety of the people of California and the officers who protect them.”
Response and Suspension
In the wake of the mishap, all live-fire activity over the freeway corridor has been suspended. Military officials have launched an investigation into the detonation and any breakdowns in protocol that may have led to the shrapnel spread.
