A student accused of being part of a mob of more than 30 men who attacked two Marines during a Beach High School party will be tried as an adult, the boy’s family tells the Post. bottom.
The 16-year-old student was one of five people arrested Tuesday on suspicion of attacking two Marines in San Clemente, Calif., over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
On May 26, a video circulated showing a crowd of teens stamping and kicking Marine Antonino and two other unnamed servicemen on the San Clemente Pier, prompting the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to accuse them of assault with a deadly weapon. arrested five teens (four boys and one girl). .
A family member of one of the indicted persons told the Post their brother was facing two felony charges for allegedly assaulting two Marines and was charged by Orange County prosecutors. He admitted that he planned to stand trial as an adult.
The younger brother, who did not want to be named to protect his family, disputed allegations that the brothers had anything to do with the fight, claiming that they had in fact been injured during the brawl.
“It just feels so unfair to go after someone who doesn’t hurt anyone and is just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” the family said. “my [sibling] He’s a really nice guy, a good student, and he’s never had a problem. “
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer declined to comment on the case, saying it involved a boy.
“The Orange County District Attorney’s Office does not tolerate violence of any kind, and acts of violence committed by anyone regardless of age will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Spitzer said in a statement Thursday night. rice field.
Students and parents interviewed by the Post claimed Antonino and two other Marines were drunk and violent with the teens.
A viral video showed one of the soldiers climbing several flights of stairs, as someone in the crowd yelled, “Get the fuck out of here,” and a boy punched the soldier in the back of the head.
The Marines then turned and rushed into a group of about 30 men, followed by Antonino.
The mob reacts by punching and kicking the soldiers, who fall to the ground in a fetal position as a rain of punches and kicks from the crowd pours down.
“Given the number of suspects we are investigating, this would qualify as an assault with a deadly weapon,” Sergeant said. Orange County Sheriff’s Department Frank Gonzalez told KCAL News.
“While the victims were on the ground, the weapons used were their feet.”
Antonino also told a local television station that a mob attacked him and his friends after the teenagers called for the fireworks to stop.
However, students told the Post that the Marines were clearly intoxicated and stayed away from the fireworks.
“We tried to escape, but [the Marines] They were the ones who followed us,” said one of the students at the May 26 party that started on T Street Beach.
Additional videos shared on social media showed Antonino playing cards with teens before the now-famous beatdown.
In one video, Antonino hands a half-empty bottle of Fireball whiskey to another young partygoer, who takes a sip before giving it back.
Antonino refuted the video footage, telling the Post that “none of my friends leaked anything.”
Another video showed a shirtless Antonino grappling with another Marine, dropping a drink, and then pushing a teenage boy into a crowd of about 30 to 40 people.
All five teens arrested in connection with the Marine attack attended San Clemente High School, sources told the Post.
