Marine Live-Fire Shrapnel Hits CHP Vehicle

An artillery round fired during a U.S. Marine Corps 250th‑anniversary “Sea to Shore” live‑fire demonstration at Camp Pendleton prematurely detonated over Interstate 5, and metal shrapnel struck and dented a California Highway Patrol cruiser that had been part of a traffic break and Vice President J.D. Vance’s protective detail. No injuries were reported and officers recovered small pieces of shrapnel. The Marine Corps suspended further firing, notified investigators and said it was reviewing the possible airborne detonation after safety evaluations had been conducted. The CHP filed an internal report and called for an after‑action review to improve planning, communication and coordination among federal, state and local partners for future live‑fire events near public roadways. The incident drew intensified political scrutiny after Gov. Gavin Newsom had warned about the risks of firing munitions over a busy interstate and ordered a temporary closure of part of I‑5 for the exercises.