Police Launch Investigation After Attack On Marines
A disturbing video shows the 'savage' attack of three United States Marines by as many as 40 teenagers during Memorial Day weekend in San Clemente, California.
The self-identified Marines were strolling along the beach Friday evening when they were confronted by a rowdy mob of teens, prompting an altercation that led to a terrifying beatdown.
Frightening footage shared online shows two of the victims curled up in the fetal position on the ground as the crowd lashed out at them. Hateful slurs and curses were heard flying as the teens surged forward to kick and punch the fallen Marines.
The three men all sustained minor injuries, but refused transport to a local hospital, according to the Orange County Sheriff's deputies investigating the horrific incident.
The video, taken by a bystander, shows the Marines at the beginning of the pier steps in their civilian attire attempting to leave the group of teens hurling expletives at them. The altercation erupted when one of the teens punched one of the Marines in the back of his head.
As the attackers moved in to administer vicious kicks and punches, two of the Marines were seen helplessly curled up in the fetal position on the ground. Both passersby -- an unknown man and woman -- heard the commotion and intervened, shouting 'Stop, what are you doing?'
Though the motives behind the attack are still unclear, one of the Marines, Hunter Antonio, told local news stations that the scuffle began when he kindly asked the teens to leave as their unruly behavior hindered others from enjoying the beach.
In an interview, Antonio recounted the incident--'They were lighting off fireworks, they were being belligerent and obnoxious and annoying other people, so I went up to them and told them to stop.'
The perpetrator of the attack, or perpetrators, were still unknown as of press time, but Orange County Sheriff's deputies confirmed that anyone involved maybe be pursued with charges of assault with a deadly weapon.
In an interview, San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan described the Memorial Day weekend attack as 'tragic.'
'This is San Clemente, Marines are always welcome here, always going to be celebrated, always taken care of, and that is why this is so particularly tragic,' he said.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department is actively working to bring the lawbreakers behind the Memorial Day Beatdown to justice, ensuring that United States Marines are kept safe and celebrated in San Clemente.