Bomb-squad technicians and Marine Corps specialists swept into Torrey Highlands yesterday after a passerby stumbled on what appeared to be an artillery shell near the Del Mar Mesa Preserve. A 911 call drew officers to the 7200 block of Arroyo Grande Road shortly before 9:30 AM, and crews quickly secured the scene and cleared the item for transport. No injuries were reported, and officials said the device was headed to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar for identification and disposal.
As reported by NBC 7 San Diego, San Diego police Sgt. Saum Poorsaleh said the caller reported the discovery shortly before 9:30 AM, which brought out ordnance-handling technicians from San Diego Fire-Rescue, the FBI and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to the neighborhood just west of Interstate 15 and south of state Route 56. San Diego Fire-Rescue Capt. Jason Shanley told the outlet that multiple X-rays were conducted, and the item appeared to be an artillery round with no fuse present and no immediate concerns identified. Miramar personnel took possession of the ordnance for further identification and disposal, and Shanley said the object was removed from the area as of 11:40 a.m.
How authorities handled the shell
Finding old munitions around San Diego is unusual, but it has happened before. KPBS reported that a surveyor discovered an undetonated mortar shell in Torrey Highlands in 2014, and the Times of San Diego covered a 2021 case in which a bomb squad removed a 120 mm round from a backyard. In both cases, as in Tuesday’s response, explosives experts handled the X-rays and disposal, and no injuries were reported, underscoring why officials insist that only trained technicians deal with suspicious military ordnance.
Recognize, retreat, report
Authorities urge residents to keep their distance if they come across anything that looks like a munition. The guidance is simple: do not touch or move the object, mark the area if it can be done safely, and call 911. According to the Department of Defense Explosives Safety 3Rs program, the correct steps are to recognize the munition, Retreat to a safe distance, and report the location so bomb-disposal or explosive ordnance disposal teams can respond. Dispatchers ask callers to give precise location details and, when it can be done from a safe distance, provide photos to help technicians plan a safe removal.
