Shrapnel hits cars on California highway during Marines celebration

Artillery shrapnel that exploded during a celebration honoring the U.S. Marine Corps struck at least two vehicles on a California highway Saturday, officials said.

The Marine Corps 250th Anniversary event was attended by Vice President J.D. Vance and featured live ammunition firing. The California Highway Patrol said one of them “exploded prematurely overhead” and struck two vehicles that were part of Vance's security detail.

It came as state officials and the White House sparred over a decision to close part of Interstate 5 for an event in southern California.

“Firing live ammunition over a busy highway is not only wrong—it’s dangerous,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat.

The Highway Patrol said no injuries were reported and notified the Marine Corps, which then canceled further munitions firing.

“This was an unusual and alarming situation,” Border Patrol Chief Tony Coronado said in a statement, adding that such exercises are not common on active highways.

Newsom said he closed a section of Interstate 5 “due to extreme risk to life and driver distraction, including sudden, unexpected and loud explosions.”

But before they learned of the incident, officials in the vice president's office disputed that the demonstration was dangerous and accused the California governor of trying to stoke fear.

The BBC has contacted the White House and the Vice President's office about the shrapnel incident.

“If Gavin Newsom wants to oppose an exercise that ensures our Armed Forces become the deadliest and deadliest fighting force in the world, then he can go ahead,” William Martin, Vance's communications director, told CNN before reports of the incident came to light.

“It is not surprising that he has stooped so low, given his pathetic record of failure as governor.”

Newsom responded to the military failure by saying that “Donald Trump and J.D. Vance put lives at risk to put on a show.” He added that if they want to honor the soldiers, they should work to reopen the federal governmentwhich ran out of funding in early October.

In a statement, the First Marine Expeditionary Force at Camp Pendleton said it was aware of an incident involving a 55mm round fired during that event and that an investigation is ongoing.

“The demonstration underwent a thorough security assessment and deliberate duplication to ensure the safety of fellow citizens,” the statement said.

“In accordance with established safety protocols, the shooting has been suspended. There were no injuries and the demonstration ended as planned.”

In a police report, California Highway officials said the two damaged vehicles used as part of Vance's posse were then sent to secure the freeway and keep it closed during the event.

Officers wrote in the report that they saw an artillery shell fail to clear the highway and explode near the southbound lanes.

One officer said it sounded like rocks were being thrown onto his patrol bike. Several pieces of debris were found, including one that was dented in the hood of a patrol car.

The demonstration was the largest in a decade in the continental U.S., Marines said, and included fighter jets, Navy ships, helicopters and live-fire exercises from a towed howitzer.

During his speech to hundreds of Marines, Vance recalled his time in the military, spoke out against the government shutdown and criticized previous military diversity initiatives.

“I wouldn't be here today, I wouldn't be vice president of the United States, I wouldn't be the person I am today if it weren't for those four years that I served in the Marines,” he said.

Vance served four years in the Marines and served in Iraq in 2005.

But his remarks were mostly about politics and partly about attacking the “woke” aspects of the military.

“This is our common goal, this is our common mission, and it is the fact that every person here bleeds Marine blood,” he said.

One of the Trump administration's efforts is to eliminate diversity initiatives. especially in the Pentagon.

Vance also used the speech time to rail against the nearly three-week government shutdown and place blame on Democrats, particularly Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

“Today I bring greetings from our Commander in Chief, Donald Trump, and he wanted me to tell each and every one of you that he is proud of you, that he loves you, and that despite Schumer's suspension, he will do everything he can to make sure you are paid exactly what you deserve,” he said.

While thousands of federal employees work for free, the Department of Defense pays soldiers.