The Marine Corps is investigating reports that one of its artillery shells fired in yesterday’s celebrations at Camp Pendleton prematurely detonated over Interstate 5, sending shrapnel down onto the freeway and highway patrol vehicles.

The New York Times first reported on the incident, citing a California Highway Patrol report. According to the report, officers reported pieces of shrapnel raining down and hitting a California Highway Patrol motorcycle and car, as well as the ground around them. Two officers reported that a two-inch piece of shrapnel left a dent in the patrol car.

The Marine Corps is aware of a “report of a possible airborne detonation of a 155mm artillery round outside the designated impact area,” Capt Gregory Dreibelbis, a spokesperson for I Marine Expeditionary Force,

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