Camp Pendleton : Armory Blast Kills 2 Marines

Two Marines were killed and three others were injured Thursday in an armory explosion at Camp Pendleton, a base spokesman said.

Capt. Jerry Broeckert said the explosion occurred about 4:30 p.m. as Marines were returning their weapons to the armory after training exercises. The two Marines who died were inside the armory when the explosion occurred.

Three others were standing outside the building and suffered minor injuries. They were listed in stable condition late Thursday night at the camp’s hospital.

One of the Marines died at the scene, the other about 7:50 p.m. at the hospital, a Camp Pendleton spokesman said.

The names of the dead and injured were being withheld until their families were notified.

According to Broeckert, the arms stored in the building were anti-armor weapons capable of destroying masonry structures or armored vehicles, such as tanks.

He said an investigation of the cause is under way.