Shocking video has captured a mob of up to 40 teens viciously beating a trio of off-duty Marines who say they’d merely asked them to stop lighting fireworks on a California beach.
The now-viral footage shows the Marines — enjoying time off for Memorial Day weekend — being followed by the baying mob while walking toward San Clemente Pier Bowl late Friday.
“We told them we were Marines so they would leave — but they didn’t. They just kept going at it,” one of the attacked servicemen, Hunter Antonino, told KCAL News.
As they start walking up some steps, some in the group behind yell for them to “get the f–k outta here” — before one runs up from behind and sucker-punches the trailing serviceman.
After a brief hesitation, the Marine drops what’s in his hand and charges at his attacker, knocking him down.
Instantly, the mob swarms around him, throwing wild punches and screaming abuse. “Get that f—er! Get that f—er! F–k that f—er up!” one repeatedly shouts.
The attacked Marine and one of his pals are left crunched into the fetal position on the ground, their hands and arms covering their heads as the mob continues to kick, punch and stamp them.
“What’s good n–ger,” one of the group asks, as others call them “p—ies” and the initial sucker-punching thug pours a drink over one of them.
The nearly minute-long clip shows the attack only ending when a man and woman rush in and scream at them to stop.
At least one other Marine was also attacked, although he was not seen in the clip.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department initially estimated 10 to 30 teens and young adults were involved — but footage from afar suggested way more, with seemingly at least 40 swarming the men on the beach.
The department vowed to investigate the attack “until all individuals responsible are identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”