Video shows Marines partying on California beach before beating

Aug 15, 2023

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The Marines brutally beaten by a group of up to 40 teenagers at a California beach over Memorial Day weekend are seen partying with a group before the incident in new videos obtained by The Post.

Hunter Antonino, one of the three off-duty Marines who were attacked, is seen among a rowdy crowd of at least 20 people on T-Street Beach in San Clemente on May 26.

The atmosphere appears friendly and he is seen wearing a cowboy hat as he plays cards with other members of the group.

He then hands a half-empty Fireball whiskey bottle to another member of the party, who takes a swig before handing it back.

Another video shows a chaotic scene with a large group of people gathered together closely around two of the Marines, who are shirtless.

Sources told The Post the two Marines were grappling with each other in a play fight for the crowd.

At one point, a Marine who appears to be Antonino, briefly pushes a boy away from him, before the other quickly intervenes and grabs him.

They then break off and walk down the beach together followed by the crowd, who continue to swarm around them.

It is not clear if the group are the same people who later took part in the beating, which left the three Marines with visible injuries.

Initial reports stated 9 students were arrested on Tuesday, but Orange County Sheriff's officials confirmed to The Post that four boys and one girl were arrested and booked at Orange County Juvenile Hall for assault with a deadly weapon. The other two Marines who were attacked have not been identified.

Antonino said he and his buddies had not allowed anyone underage to drink alcohol that night, telling The Post: "None of my friends were passing out anything."

Antonino previously told KCAL News they were enjoying time off for Memorial Day weekend but were followed by the mob of teens to San Clemente Pier Bowl.

He said the high school kids attacked him and his two friends after they asked the group to stop shooting off fireworks.

"We told them we were Marines so they would leave — but they didn't," Antonino said to the local TV station. "They just kept going at it."

In the video that went viral over the weekend, the three Marines were seen walking up steps when someone in the crowd yelled, "Get the f—k out of here" before a boy ran up from behind and sucker-punched one serviceman.

The Marine turns around and lunges into the crowd of about 30 people before he and Antonino are mercilessly punched and kicked while they try to protect themselves.

A teenager who was at the beach that night claimed to The Post the Marines had joined their high school party and that they were drunk.

"The Marines were not just passing by. They did not mention fireworks to us once," said the teen.

The Marines declined to be taken to the hospital following the incident, but the Orange County Sheriff's Department said they are cooperating with its investigation and encouraged anyone with further information to call detectives.