Wild video shows the moment a group of self-proclaimed US Marines were savagely beaten by as many as 40 teenagers after service members confronted them about their unruly behavior on a California beach.
The victims said they were just walking along the beach in San Clemente, California, when they were attacked by the huge crowd of teens around 10 p.m. Friday night.
A terrifying video posted online showed two victims curled up in the fetal position on the floor as the crowd continued to kick them, hurling swear words and racial slurs. A third Marine was also attacked, but is not seen in the footage.
The men suffered minor injuries and refused to be transported to a local hospital in the aftermath, Orange County sheriff’s deputies say.
Two U.S. Marines were seen in footage attacked by a mob of teens along a California beach over Memorial Day weekend
Crowds kicked at the self-proclaimed Marines Friday night after the men confronted the teens about their behavior in San Clemente, California
Hunter Antonio, one of the self-described Marines, told KCAL the fight started when he told the teens to stop setting off fireworks
Police are investigating the gruesome attack and the unknown teens could soon all be charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
The minute-long video posted to Facebook showed the Marines in their civilian clothes trying to climb the steps outside the Pier Bowl as a group of teenagers yelled at them.
As they approached the stairs, a male teenager was seen brutally striking the back of the head of one of the Marines.
The Marine turned and charged the attacker, leading to an all-out brawl, as the teen’s friends all jumped in to swing and kick the Marine.
Within seconds, the group circled the two Marines shouting “Get that f***er” and “F*** that f***er up,” even using the N-word at one point.
As the cameraman moved closer to the unfolding scene, two of the victims were seen curled up on the floor as the group continued to beat them with vicious kicks.
The brawl only ended when two passersby, an unidentified man and woman, intervened and yelled at the children, “Stop, what are you doing?”
It remains unclear what happened prior to the video, but Hunter Antonio, one of the self-proclaimed Marines, narrated KCAL the fight started when he asked the teens to stop setting off fireworks.
The brawl only ended when two unknown passersby intervened and yelled at the teens
Orange County officials say the two men suffered only minor injuries, such as an injury to the hand, scrapes to the knees and pain in the abdomen, chest and head. They refused medical attention on the spot
Antonio said he and his Marine friend were enjoying a rare time off from Camp Pendleton in Oceanside over Memorial Day weekend when the crowd began setting off the fireworks.
When a piece of debris hit him in the face, Antonio said he politely asked them to leave.
“They were setting off fireworks, they were belligerent and obnoxious and annoying other people, so I went up to them and told them to stop,” he said.
But the group followed him back to the pier, to which Antonio said he and his friend warned the teens they were Marines “so they would leave, but they didn’t.”
Orange County officials say the two men ultimately suffered only minor injuries, such as an injury to the hand, scrapes to the knees and pain in the abdomen, chest and head.
It is believed that as many as 40 teenagers were involved in the attack, but the Marines suffered only minor injuries
The vicious attack began outside the Pier Bowl as the Marines dressed in their civilian clothes began to climb the steps
However, Antonio fears that he also has a concussion.
“There’s still blood on my face,” he said. “It wasn’t cool at all.”
Arrests have yet to be made in the brutal attack as Orange County deputies continue their investigation.
The suspects could be charged with assault with a deadly weapon “because of the number of suspects we are investigating,” Sheriff Sgt. said Frank Gonzalez.
“The weapons used were their feet while these victims were on the ground,” he explained.
“So whether the victims opt for prosecution or medical attention, the sheriff is going to investigate this to the extreme and try to determine who the suspects are.”
San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan described the attack over Memorial Day weekend as “tragic.”
“This is San Clemente, Marines are always welcome here, it’s always celebrated, it’s always taken care of, and that’s why this is so tragic,” he said.