Marine is found shot dead in San Clemente
An active-duty Marine was found shot to death Thursday morning in a drainage ditch in a hilly area of San Clemente.
The victim was wearing desert fatigues commonly used in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his hat was found nearby, Orange County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino said. The man was shot in the upper torso and was lying face down, Amormino said.
Investigators believe he was killed near where he was found. A doctor walking on a trail near the 1000 block of Calle Cordillera saw the body about 40 yards away, Amormino said. Police estimate the man had been dead less than 24 hours.
His identity was not released, but Amormino said he was 21 years old, married and lived in Sacramento. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Amormino said.
Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents are assisting sheriff’s investigators.
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