Trending Now - Rare Live Fire Incident Scatters Shrapnel on California Highway
WHO:
President Donald Trump
Vice President JD Vance
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom
26 California U.S. House members
California's two senators
Gen. Eric Smith, commandant of the Marine Corps
Brig. Gen. Garrett “Rainman” Hoffman, of the White House Military Office
Diana Crofts-Pelayo, spokesperson for Newsom’s office
WHAT:
The Marine Corps planned to fire 60 rounds of live artillery in 5 minutes over the highway, using six howitzer weapons.
The report stated that the premature detonation of the round was "beyond reasonable expectations and should not have happened, but it did."
An officer described hearing what sounded like “pebbles” falling on his CHP motorcycle, and finding shards nearby.
CHP sergeants conducted a safety sweep and didn't find any other pieces of metal in the highway lanes, with both sides of the highway reopened about 30 minutes later.
A malfunction during a live fire demonstration led to a misfire that rained shrapnel on Interstate 5.
An artillery shell exploded over the highway, striking two California Highway Patrol vehicles.
The Marine Corps investigation concluded there is "no definitive answer" to why an M795 high explosive round detonated early.
The report stated the round detonated at an altitude of about 1,480 feet (450 meters).
The malfunction was described as “one in a million” and no injuries were reported.
The demonstration involved firing 60 rounds, but was halted after the first round misfired.
A piece of shrapnel measuring 2 inches by ½ inch struck a patrol car, leaving a small dent or scratch.
WHERE:
Interstate 5, California
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California
A 17-mile (27-kilometer) stretch of I-5
WHEN:
The live fire demonstration occurred on October 18th, 2025.
The report was dated December 19th, 2025.
The first round was launched at 1:46 p.m. on October 18th, 2025.
A statement from a Marine was cited on December 5th, 2025.
The practice rounds were fired a day before the celebration.
WHY:
Newsom described the live fire exercise as a show of force meant to intimidate Trump’s opponents, thousands of whom were demonstrating at “No Kings” protests in and around San Diego on October 18th, 2025.
Governor Newsom described the live fire exercise as dangerous and unnecessary.
Newsom stated the exercise was a show of force meant to intimidate Trump’s opponents.
The malfunction may have been caused by howitzer guns being too close together and the potential presence of anomalous electromagnetic energy.
HOW:
The artillery was fired from M777 howitzers on a beach west of Interstate 5 toward the east.
The demonstration featured aircraft, ships, and amphibious assault vehicles.
(UPDATED March 18, 2026 13:27 UTC)
In a live fire exercise intended as a show of force during the "No Kings" protests in San Diego, the Marine Corps planned to fire 60 rounds of live artillery in just five minutes using six howitzer weapons. However, a premature detonation occurred, which an officer described as sounding like "pebbles" falling on his motorcycle, leading to a safety sweep by CHP sergeants who found no other metal debris on the highway. Both sides of the highway were reopened about 30 minutes later after the incident, which was deemed "beyond reasonable expectations" by officials.
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(UPDATED March 18, 2026 01:34 UTC)
A live fire demonstration at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton last October resulted in a malfunction that caused an artillery shell to explode over Interstate 5, striking two California Highway Patrol vehicles. The Marine Corps investigation found no definitive answer for the early detonation of the M795 high explosive round, which occurred at an altitude of about 1,480 feet, but described the incident as "one in a million" with no injuries reported. Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the exercise as dangerous and unnecessary, suggesting it was intended to intimidate Trump’s opponents, while the report indicated that the malfunction might have been linked to the proximity of the howitzer guns and possible electromagnetic interference.