Fireworks dispute at California pier sparks violent fight between group of teenagers and several Marines

By Minyvonne Burke - NBC News

Police in Southern California say they are investigating a violent fight over the weekend involving several Marines and a large group of teenagers.

The altercation, partially captured on cellphone video and shared on social media, occurred Friday at San Clemente Pier, the Orange County Sheriff's Department said in a statement on Instagram. Authorities did not immediately provide details about the events.

"On Friday, May 26, an altercation took place at the San Clemente pier in which several Marines and numerous minors and young adults were involved. Our officers arrived at the scene and investigated the incident," the statement said.

In one video, a person who appears to be a teenager punches a man in the back of the head. The man turns and attacks the teenager. During the altercation, several people surround the man and assault him. You can hear cries of "hit that damn one."

The fight ends when a man and a woman intervene. The video does not show what happened before the fight took place. The sheriff's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

Fireworks dispute

Hunter Antonino told KCAL News in Los Angeles that he had been one of the Marines involved in the fight. He said he was with two of his friends on the pier enjoying their break when about 30 teenagers showed up on the beach and started setting off fireworks, according to the CBS station.

When several residue from the fires hit him in the face, he respectfully asked the teens to leave, KCAL reported.

View of San Clemente Pier in Southern California.Google Maps

"They were throwing fireworks, they were bellicose, they were behaving in a detestable way and annoying other people, so I decided to go to them and tell them to stop," he said.

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Antonino said the group followed him and the other two Marines to the dock and that's when the fight started. He claimed he was beaten and jumped on him. He believes he suffered a concussion, the news station reported.

Antonino could not be reached on a phone number listed under his name.

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The sheriff's office said officers arrived at the scene and all victims refused medical assistance.

"The Orange County Sheriff's Office will continue to investigate the incident until all responsible persons are identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," the department said in a statement.

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After the fight, the police presence was increased at the pier.