SAN DIEGO (Harbor District) — A fight that erupted as passengers disembarked from a Halloween cruise early Sunday left a security guard critically injured and two people under arrest, according to the Port of San Diego Harbor Police.
Officers responded around 12:07 a.m. to reports of a fight in progress at 1800 North Harbor Drive, near City Cruises by Hornblower, as a large crowd exited the vessel. When they arrived, they found a security guard who was unconscious, not breathing, and had no pulse.
Harbor Police officers immediately began lifesaving measures and successfully restored the victim’s pulse before paramedics transported him to a hospital, where he remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Due to the large number of people in the area, San Diego Police assisted with crowd control and securing the scene.
Investigators later identified Ernesto Molina Jr., 39, as the primary suspect and Claudia Mendiola De Franco, 48, as a secondary suspect accused of assaulting Molina after the initial fight. Both were arrested on felony assault with a deadly weapon or with force likely to cause great bodily injury.
The case remains under investigation. Anyone with photos, video, or other information is asked to contact Harbor Police at 619-686-6272 or submit anonymous tips via San Diego County Crime Stoppers at sdcrimestoppers.org.
