World War I-Era Howitzer Shell Removed From American Legion Post In Reseda
RESEDA (CBS) — A World War I-era howitzer shell has been safely removed from the attic of an American Legion Post in Reseda and detonated by a Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad.
The shell, which was originally reported as a "suspicious package" was found about 2:35 p.m. Wednesday under the floorboards in the attic of the legion post number 308, in the 7300 block of Canby Avenue, Lt. Robert Davis said.
No evacuations were ordered because the shell was not believed to be live, he said.
"We just followed standard protocol, which is to have the bomb squad come out and check out the shell," he said.
An explosive ordinance detail from the Marine base at Camp Pendleton came to the scene and determined the shell was indeed live, Sgt. Mike Patriquin said.
Police had no idea how the shell, which was believed to be 100 years old, ended up in the legion post attic, Patriquin said.
"They were cleaning up when they found it," he said.
The shell was removed about 11 p.m. Wednesday and blown up an hour later in a safe location near the beach in the West Los Angeles patrol area, according to Patriquin.
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