Juvenile crime is a concern that cuts across the nation, including in the state of California.
Recently, in Oakland, nine adolescents were apprehended for their alleged involvement in over 30 robbery cases. Further south, another group of young individuals was arrested after purportedly assaulting members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
On May 26, the Orange County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to San Clemente Pier following a report about a sizable group of juveniles allegedly assaulting people. Upon arrival, the authorities discovered two U.S. Marines who sustained injuries from an assault.
The Orange County Fire Authority provided medical care to the servicemen, but they declined to be transported to a hospital. Another Marine was also reported to have been assaulted during the incident.
Lance Corporal Hunter Antonino, one of the Marines, recounted his experience to KCAL News. He and two of his comrades were at the pier during their leisure time when they came across a group of approximately 30 to 40 kids at the beach.
The youngsters were setting off fireworks.
When debris hit a Marine in the face, he asked them to cease their activity. This led to the group pursuing him to the pier where they attacked him and his companions. The assault involved punches and stomping, leading to minor injuries.
On May 30, the sheriff’s department reported the identification and subsequent arrest of five teenagers – four boys and one girl. They were accused of using a deadly weapon to carry out an assault, the weapon being their feet, used to stomp on the victims while they lay on the ground.
Four more individuals were later arrested and charged with misdemeanor assault and battery, bringing the total number of arrests to nine.
In their investigation, detectives used video footage of the incident to identify and locate the suspects. Antonino expressed his distress over the situation, describing it as “not cool at all” and suspects he might have sustained a concussion during the assault.
The investigation by the sheriff’s department is still ongoing.