What began as a grand salute to the U.S. Marine Corps’ 250th birthday in Southern California turned unsettling when artillery shrapnel struck vehicles traveling along Interstate 5 — one of the state’s busiest highways.
The incident occurred Saturday during a large-scale military demonstration attended by Vice President JD Vance. The California Highway Patrol said a round fired from a towed howitzer “detonated prematurely overhead,” scattering fragments that hit at least two vehicles — both part of Vance’s protective detail. No injuries were reported, though officials described the situation as “unusual and concerning.”
The celebration, billed as the largest Marine demonstration in a decade, featured fighter jets, naval vessels, helicopters, and live-fire displays from Camp Pendleton. State officials, however, had voiced concerns long before the first round was fired. Governor Gavin Newsom, who opposed closing a section of I-5 for the event, called it “a reckless decision that put lives at risk.”
“Firing live rounds over a major freeway isn’t patriotic — it’s dangerous,” Newsom said in a statement after the mishap.
The Marine Corps immediately suspended further firing and opened an investigation into what went wrong. In a statement, the First Marine Expeditionary Force said safety protocols had been “rigorously evaluated” prior to the event and that the demonstration was halted as soon as the malfunction occurred.
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The episode quickly deepened a political rift between California’s Democratic leadership and the Trump administration. Before the incident, Vance’s team had accused Newsom of “fearmongering” by questioning the event’s safety. Hours later, the governor fired back, saying, “Donald Trump and JD Vance put lives at risk to put on a show.”
From the stage, Vance — himself a Marine veteran who served in Iraq — had praised the Corps and railed against “woke politics” in the military. But after the dust settled, the tone of the day shifted sharply from celebration to scrutiny.
An investigation continues into how a shell meant to honor the Marines’ legacy instead came dangerously close to tragedy.
