Five minors were arrested Tuesday in connection with a Memorial Day weekend melee near the San Clemente Pier over Memorial Day weekend in which a group of 30 teens and young adults attacked three off-duty Marines, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The five juveniles — four boys and one girl —were arrested on suspicion of felony assault.
The Marines were kicked and punched by the group late Friday, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
one of the Marines told a local TV station the melee started after he asked the other group to stop lighting fireworks at the beach because firework debris had hit him in the face.
“The barbaric assault on off-duty Marines at the San Clemente Pier goes against everything we stand for in San Clemente, and it’s no excuse that teenagers were involved,” Mayor Chris Duncan said.