A live artillery shell exploded prematurely over a California freeway during a Marine Corps celebration, raining shrapnel down on a California Highway Patrol vehicle and a motorcycle. The incident occurred during a live-fire demonstration to commemorate the military branch's 250th anniversary. According to a police report, fragments 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 do so. The exercise was canceled, and the area was swept for shell fragments, but none were found. The CHP closed a 17-mile stretch of the highway for periods before and during the Saturday exercise, causing severe traffic delays. The incident sparked controversy, with Governor Newsom strongly objecting to what he called an 'absurd show of force' and 'totally uncalled for'. He criticized the military's disregard for public safety, arguing that firing live rounds over a busy highway is dangerous and disrespectful. US Marine officials defended the exercise, claiming it was routine and safe, but CHP officials emphasized the rarity of such activities over an active freeway. The decision to close the freeway was ultimately made by state transportation officials after practice firings on Friday evening and a request from event organizers for signage. The I5 closure caused significant backups for commuters between San Diego and Los Angeles, and passenger rail services were also canceled for the afternoon. The incident has sparked debate, with Representative Darrell Issa calling it a 'spiteful publicity stunt' by Newsom, and a spokesperson for JD Vance, a former enlisted marine, defending the training exercises as essential for the Armed Forces' lethality.
