2 injured in Calif as tall ship fires live round

DANA POINT, Calif. — Two people suffered minor injuries during a California tall ship festival when a shotgun shell was loaded into a ship's cannon and fired at another vessel during a mock battle.

The Orange County Register reports (bit.ly/RFjrf9) authorities are investigating how a shotgun shell containing pellets was fired Saturday instead of a blank, plain powder charge.

Authorities say the Amazing Grace, a tall ship based in Washington state, fired at the vessel Bill of Rights, hitting two people onboard during a Dana Point festival that celebrates 19th century seafaring.

Both ships were using small cannons that use blank charges that look like common shotgun shells.

Orange County sheriff's spokeswoman Gail Krause says her department is awaiting the outcome of the investigation before deciding whether to pursue charges of negligent discharge.