4 Beaten With Baseball Bats In 'Random Assaults' At Oceanside Harbor

OCEANSIDE, CA — Four people were beaten with baseball bats in "random assaults" over the weekend at Oceanside Harbor, authorities said Monday.

Police responded to reports of an altercation involving several suspects around 8:50 p.m. Saturday at 1400 North Harbor Drive in Oceanside, according to the Oceanside Police Department.

According to witnesses, two people with bandanas over their faces assaulted several men with baseball bats, Officer Heather Mitchell said in a news release. The suspects drove away before police arrived at the scene. Two victims suffering from head trauma were taken to the hospital.

"Witnesses at the scene stated that the suspects appeared to be instigating fights with random passersby," Mitchell said. "A bystander, who began recording the incident on her phone, was subsequently targeted by the suspects who attempted to seize her device."

Police later learned about two other victims who were being treated for similar injuries at Tri-City Medical Center.

"Although unrelated to the two other victims, they were assaulted in the same area and manner by the same suspects," Mitchell said.

All of the victims suffered significant injuries, including head lacerations, and one was left with a facial fracture, Mitchell said.

The assaults remain under investigation. Police have located the suspect vehicle and "possible suspect information," Mitchell said.