Marines suspected of firing guns in Laguna Beach

Two Marines are suspected of shooting at downtown Laguna Beach businesses and vehicles – including one in which a woman was sleeping, authorities said.

Joseph Nahale, of Fremont, and Jesse Ivie of Gresham, Ore., both 20, were arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism and shooting into an occupied vehicle, Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jim Amormino said.

A woman was resting in the back of her vehicle at Crown Valley Parkway and Coast Highway late Saturday night, when she was awoken by shots hitting her vehicle, Amormino said.

Her rear window and rear side window were shot out. The woman told authorities that she believed the suspects were driving a red Ford Explorer.

Deputies searched the are, but were initially unable to locate the suspects or their car.

Laguna Beach police reported that eight Laguna Beach storefronts and 17 vehicles were shot up later that night. Amormino said there were also reports of similar shootings in San Clemente, Dana Point and Newport Beach.

About 1 a.m. Sunday, deputies stopped a maroon Explorer that matched the earlier victim's description near Ritz Carlton Drive in Dana Point.

The men inside, both active duty Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton, were detained and arrested, Amormino said.

Authorities said the suspects had purchased BB guns at Wal-Mart earlier that day. The guns were confiscated.

The first victim, a 25-year-old woman, told deputies that she and her husband, a veteran, were down on their luck and would not be able to afford repairs to the car. The Assn. of Sheriff’s Deputies is going to pick up the tab, Amormino said. He believes the damage could be between $600 to $1,000.

--Joanna Clay

Photos: Jesse Ivie, at top, and Joseph Nahale. Credit: Orange County Sheriff's Depart.