A group of Marines were beaten severely over Memorial Day Weekend after they asked a group of belligerent teenagers to stop shooting fireworks in San Clemente, California.
The altercation is emblematic of a series of issues in San Clemente beaches as they have been increasingly occupied by homeless people and unruly youths, deterring tourists and residents from using them.
Orange County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Frank Gonzalez said that he is recommending charging suspects who are identified with assault with a deadly weapon, according to a local news correspondent.
“This is considered an assault with a deadly weapon because of the amount of suspects we are investigating,” He said, also referencing the fact that the assailants continued to kick the veterans while they were already subdued and on the ground.
Nearby residents said that the teenagers were drinking and smoking pot while lighting the fireworks, with some spilling over on to private residences near the beach.
Residents also said that the teenagers were trespassing at private businesses on the beach prior to the attack.
“They started getting rowdy, jumping on top of the restaurant on the beach called West Toast,” One resident said. “They were yelling, screaming, fireworks going off on top of the restaurant, fireworks being shot at each other.”
The video of the teenagers assaulting Marine veterans went viral on social media this weekend.
WARNING: DISTURBING
FOX News Reports–
San Clemente, California
Two Marines were beaten by a group of teenagers and the Orange County Sheriff's Department Monday was searching for the attackers.The melee began about 9:15 p.m. Friday near the pier located at the end of Avenida del Mar, and OCSD deputies responded to… pic.twitter.com/F4GVDlINBf
— D. Scott @eclipsethis2003 (@eclipsethis2003) May 30, 2023
Disturbing video posted online shows the moment when police say a mob of teenagers assaulted three military members in California over Memorial Day weekend.
Police say an altercation involving three Marines and several juveniles and young adults happened on Friday, May 26, at the pier in San Clemente, California. Deputies were dispatched at 9:50 p.m. regarding a large group of juveniles and an assault, Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Sgt. Mike Woodruff told Fox News Digital.
Witnesses reportedly saw dozens of people gathering on the T-Street Beach near the San Clemente Pier at around 10 p.m.
A minute-long video posted on Nextdoor, a social media platform for neighbors, shows one person throwing a punch at one of the alleged victims from behind before a large fight breaks out.