Southern California – October 19, 2025 – A live artillery shell exploded prematurely during a Marine Corps live-fire demonstration on Saturday, October 18, 2025, in southern California, resulting in shrapnel falling onto vehicles, including a California Highway Patrol car and a motorcycle that was part of JD Vance’s security detail. The explosion occurred as part of a military exercise marking the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary.
What Happened
The Marine Corps exercise was held at Camp Pendleton in North San Diego County, where Marines showcased amphibious vehicles and demonstrated a beach assault. As part of the event, a 155mm artillery shell was fired as part of the live demonstration. However, the shell exploded prematurely, launching fragments across Interstate 5, a major freeway that runs through the area.
The explosion sent shrapnel crashing onto vehicles on a nearby ramp. One piece struck the hood of a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle, leaving a dent. Another piece reportedly hit a motorcycle belonging to a member of JD Vance’s security detail. The motorcycle officer described hearing what sounded like pebbles hitting his bike and the area around him, according to the patrol’s report. Fortunately, no one was injured, though the incident raised serious concerns about the safety of the event.
Traffic Disruptions and Public Outcry
In response to the exercise, the California Highway Patrol had closed a 17-mile stretch of I-5 to ensure public safety, which caused major traffic delays on a busy Saturday morning. The last-minute freeway closure, ordered by Governor Gavin Newsom, led to severe commuter disruptions, as I-5 is a critical artery connecting San Diego and Los Angeles. The freeway serves about 80,000 travelers and $94 million in freight daily, leading to major economic impacts during the closure.
Despite safety concerns and the inconvenient closure, officials from the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton maintained that the exercise itself was routine and safe, with artillery training being a regular part of their operations. However, Governor Newsom sharply criticized the event, calling it an “absurd show of force” and accusing the White House of prioritizing vanity projects over public safety.
The Fallout and Political Reactions
The premature explosion and the resulting chaos have drawn widespread criticism, particularly from Governor Gavin Newsom. He expressed outrage at the incident, saying it was “reckless” and “disrespectful” to conduct live artillery exercises over an active freeway. Newsom further commented, “The president is putting his ego over responsibility with this disregard for public safety.”
In response to the criticism, William Martin, a spokesperson for Republican Representative JD Vance, defended the military training. Martin argued that Governor Newsom misled the public about the risks involved in the exercise and labeled the objection to the training as “spiteful”. He stated, “If Gavin Newsom wants to oppose the training exercises that ensure our Armed Forces are the deadliest and most lethal fighting force in the world, then he can go right ahead.”
Representative Darrell Issa, who represents a district east of Camp Pendleton, also defended the event, calling Newsom’s objections a political stunt.
Police and Safety Officials Speak Out
Tony Coronado, the California Highway Patrol’s division chief, expressed concerns over the incident, noting that it is “highly uncommon” for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway. Coronado emphasized his “foremost responsibility” is to ensure the safety of California residents and the officers who serve them.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) also played a key role in shutting down the freeway, with Matt Rocco, a spokesperson, stating, “This is all because of the White House-directed military event, that for the safety of the public, we need to shut down the freeway since they’re sending live ordinances over the freeway.”
Moving Forward
Despite the concerns and disruptions, the Marine Corps emphasized that no one was harmed, and an investigation into the cause of the premature explosion is underway. The exercise was canceled following the incident, and authorities conducted a sweep for any remaining shell fragments.
The Marines have said they were aware of the closure, but maintain that no one was in immediate danger during the live-fire demonstration. However, this incident has raised significant questions about the balance between military training and public safety, as well as how these types of exercises are managed in busy urban areas.
This story may be updated as more information becomes available.
