"The celebration at Camp Pendleton was billed as an uplifting event to honor the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps and highlight the enduring strength and commitment of the nation's troops. A simulated beach assault in which artillery was fired from the sand toward the interior of the sprawling base was intended to be a capstone demonstration of the capabilities of the Marine Corps."
"But the display went awry - and was forced to end early - when an artillery round exploded midair, sending shrapnel raining down onto a California Highway Patrol cruiser that was parked on an Interstate 5 on-ramp. While no one was hurt, experts say the decision to fire live munitions over the freeway during the ceremony was highly unusual. While Camp Pendleton is a large base, spanning approximately 125,000 acres between Orange and San Diego counties,"
A Marine Corps celebration at Camp Pendleton included a simulated beach assault that used live artillery fire aimed toward the base interior. An artillery round exploded midair during the demonstration, showering shrapnel onto a California Highway Patrol cruiser on an Interstate 5 on-ramp; no injuries were reported. Observers characterized the decision to fire live munitions over a freeway as highly unusual. Camp Pendleton spans roughly 125,000 acres but has a constrained location that limits dynamic live-fire training. Most artillery training for Marines occurs at larger, more remote ranges such as Twentynine Palms and Chocolate Mountain, and Camp Pendleton lacks firing areas west of Interstate 5.
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