Shrapnel fragments rained on vehicles parked on Interstate 5 including highway patrol and JD Vance’s detail

A live artillery shell exploded prematurely during a marines live-fire demonstration that launched over a southern California freeway in celebration of the military branch’s 250th anniversary, raining shrapnel down on a California Highway Patrol vehicle and a motorcycle that was part of JD Vance’s detail, according to a police report.

The New York Times reported that fragments that fell from the 155mm shell landed on vehicles parked on a ramp on Interstate 5 – a major artery through southern California – which governor Gavin Newsom had ordered closed after learning that military officials had no plans to close the freeway.

Vance, a Republican and former enlisted marine who served in Iraq, visited the base in north San Diego county with defense secretary Pete Hegseth to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary and watch troops put on a show of amphibious vehicles and marines demonstrating a beach assault.

  • daannii@lemmy.world
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    7 hours ago

    I’m not convinced it wasn’t intentional.

    Trump wants to send missile attacks on civilians so bad.

    But I’m betting someone higher up said no.
    So he figured if they made it look like an accident they could.

    Cause wtf is it okay to send deadly weapons anywhere near civilians? They leave residue that is incredibly harmful.