Newport Man Shot at Group, Police Say

The owner of a Newport Beach restaurant was arrested, accused of shooting at a group of young people near a beach fire ring, police said Friday.

No one was injured, Newport Beach police Lt. Michael McDermott said, but Edward Joseph Oneill, 45, was arrested at his residence near the Balboa Pier about 9:40 p.m. Thursday.

Police said Oneill had crawled through a bathroom window, attempting to escape. Oneill owns the Ho Sum Bistro across from Newport Beach City Hall.

Six young adults told police Oneill walked up to them during a gathering on the beach Thursday night.

Oneill’s home is about 150 yards from where the incident occurred.

“Oneill shows up at the fire ring and says, ‘Are you the people banging your swords out here?’ ” McDermott said. Members of the group, some of them Disneyland employees, said they had not been loud.

When they told Oneill they didn’t know what he was talking about, McDermott said, he pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired once in the direction of two of them.

The bullet is believed to have gone over their heads and into the ocean, according to McDermott. Oneill then walked back to his home while members of the group called police, McDermott said.

He was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and use of a firearm.

Police later returned with a search warrant and found a .38-caliber handgun and several other firearms inside the residence, McDermott said.