Nine juveniles were charged in connection with the assault on three U.S. Marines carried out by a mob of teenagers on a beach in San Clemente, California, over Memorial Day weekend, San Clemente Mayor Chris Duncan confirmed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
Five of the suspects were charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon and remain in custody, Duncan said. The four others, who have been released from custody, are charged with misdemeanor assault and battery.
Duncan described the investigation into Friday night’s incident as “very efficient and effective.” He said investigators do not anticipate any additional arrests, but said that could change.
Orange County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Mike Woodroof said on Fox News’ “The Story” that anyone, regardless of age, who “kicks another human being in the head to cause damage, internal injury to that magnitude will be arrested for a felony assault deadly weapon.”
A video posted on the social media platform Nextdoor shows one person throwing a punch at one of the alleged victims from behind before a large fight breaks out. The injured victim lunges at his attacker. The group of teenagers and young adults was then seen kicking the victims.
Two victims were filmed lying on the ground in the fetal position and covering their heads as the mob kicked and punched them. A couple of bystanders intervened in the beating, with one woman standing between the victims and the attackers as she outstretched her arms and yelled, “Stop!”
The confrontation allegedly began when the Marines told the teenagers to stop lighting fireworks on the beach, according to KCAL.
In a press release, the sheriff’s department said deputies responded to the San Clemente Pier at around 10 p.m. Friday night after being notified that a large group of juveniles had assaulted Marines.
Deputies arrived to find two injured Marines and rendered medical aid. The Marines declined transportation to the hospital.
During the investigation, the sheriff’s office discovered a third Marine was also a victim of the attack.
According to the press release, the five juveniles in custody, four boys and one girl, were booked into the Orange County Juvenile Hall.
The incident remains under investigation.
Fox News’ Chris Pandolfo and Haley Chi-Sing contributed to this report.
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