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The United States Marine Corps has confirmed that they are launching an investigation into a live-fire training incident at Camp Pendleton, where shrapnel from an artillery shell landed on a Highway Patrol vehicle.

Getting into it: The shrapnel, which was found on the hood of a California Highway Patrol (CHP) vehicle, came from a 155mm artillery round that reportedly detonated prematurely in midair during Saturday’s live-fire demonstration over Interstate 5. The vehicle was stationed near Las Pulgas Road to assist with a temporary freeway closure when the munition struck it; additional fragments were also discovered nearby, including one located by a motorcycle officer. While no injuries were reported, the incident was immediately deemed “unusual and concerning” by CHP Border Division Chief Tony Coronado, who noted that it is “highly uncommon for any live-fire or explosive training activity to occur over an active freeway.” Following the impact, the Marine Corps halted further live-fire activity and began sweeping the area for additional debris.

The demonstration was held to commemorate the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary and was attended by Vice President J.D. Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The event featured a large-scale display of amphibious and artillery capabilities, including live ammunition being fired over a 17-mile stretch of I-5 that was closed between Oceanside and San Onofre.

Governor Gavin Newsom was a vocal critic of the demonstration, calling it an “absurd show of force” and accusing the Trump administration of prioritizing political optics over public safety. In the days before the event, Newsom ordered a temporary highway closure based on CHP safety recommendations and later condemned the federal decision to proceed with the live-fire exercise, claiming it could have resulted in fatalities. “This could have killed someone,” Newsom stated on X, calling the event “reckless” and demanding accountability.

The incident also exposed significant breakdowns in communication between state and federal agencies. While Caltrans and CHP were involved in managing traffic and safety logistics, final decisions on the demonstration appeared to have come directly from federal authorities, leading to contradictory messaging. Federal officials initially denied any plan to shut down I-5, only for state agencies to issue last-minute closures and public alerts.