Marine artillery shell detonates over freeway during Camp Pendleton event

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U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Dashawn M. Rudesill, a cannoneer with 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, fires an M777 lightweight 155mm howitzer during a rehearsal for the 250th Amphibious Capabilities Demonstration at Red Beach combat town, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Oct. 17, 2025. The 250th Amphibious Capabilities Demonstration at Camp Pendleton marks the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday and America’s Semiquincentennial. The live-fire event highlights the Navy-Marine Corps team’s ability to integrate across air, land, and sea, showcasing the Corps’ enduring role as America’s force in-readiness. Rudesill is a native of Rushville, Illinois. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Aaron S. Patterson)

The Marine Corps is investigating reports that one of its artillery shells fired in yesterday’s celebrations at Camp Pendleton prematurely detonated over Interstate 5, sending shrapnel down onto the freeway and highway patrol vehicles.

The New York Times first reported on the incident, citing a California Highway Patrol report. According to the report, officers reported pieces of shrapnel raining down and hitting a California Highway Patrol motorcycle and car, as well as the ground around them. Two officers reported that a two-inch piece of shrapnel left a dent in the patrol car.

The Marine Corps is aware of a “report of a possible airborne detonation of a 155mm artillery round outside the designated impact area,” Capt Gregory Dreibelbis, a spokesperson for I Marine Expeditionary Force, said in a statement to Task & Purpose. Firing was suspended shortly after, and the Marine Corps is investigating, he said.

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The live-fire event at Camp Pendleton on Saturday was part of a wider amphibious demonstration held as part of celebrations ahead of the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday in November. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth were in attendance. Marines fired multiple M777 howitzers from the beach over Interstate 5 as part of the event. Ahead of the demonstration, the state of California closed 17 miles of the freeway around the base for a four-hour period, citing safety concerns.

California Highway Patrol confirmed the incident, saying in a release on Sunday afternoon that personnel notified the Marine Corps at the scene, prompting the halt of any of additional artillery over the freeway.

“This was an unusual and concerning situation,” California Highway Patrol Border Division Chief Tony Coronado said in a statement. “It is highly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway. 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.”

California Highway Patrol’s statement included a photo of the debris.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered the stretch of Interstate 5 — which runs along the coast and has more than 80,000 people pass through it in the journey between Los Angeles and San Diego — closed for four hours while the Marine Corps’ event took place. The closure was ordered both due to the direct risk of explosive rounds being fired over the freeway and of the potential for drivers to be distracted or startled by the sound of explosions, Newsom said.

The Marine Corps had confirmed it did not request the freeway be closed, and said on Oct. 15 ahead of the demonstration that it had “conducted a detailed risk assessment. All participants will be briefed, medical, fire, and emergency assets will be on site, and multiple rehearsals will be conducted. All air, surface, and ground movements are scripted and rehearsed in accordance with standard operating procedures and established safety checklists.”

This is a developing story.