'Coming to a gay bar near you': California Marines investigated over corporal's Facebook gun photo which appeared to threaten an Orlando-style attack

  • Two active-duty California-based Marines are under investigation for a social media post of a photo appearing to threaten an Orlando-style attack
  • 'Coming to a gay bar near you!' the unidentified corporal wrote as the caption over a photo of himself holding an assault rifle 
  • The post first appeared in Camp MENdleton resale, a closed Facebook group for men that has roughly 25,000 members
  • Maj. Staci Reidinger said officials were alerted to the post and were able to find the Marine in the photograph and another one who reposted it

By Regina F. Graham For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Published: 21:09 EST, 16 June 2016 | Updated: 06:46 EST, 18 June 2016

Two active-duty California-based Marines are under investigation for a social media post of a photo appearing to threaten an Orlando-style attack. 

'Coming to a gay bar near you!' the unidentified corporal wrote as the caption over a photo of himself holding an assault rifle. 

The social media post first appeared in Camp MENdleton resale, a closed Facebook group for men that has roughly 25,000 members and is meant for those near the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton in San Diego.

The Marine who originally posted the photo wrote 'Too soon?' alongside it in the Facebook group.

Investigation: Two active-duty California-based Marines are under investigation for a social media post of a photo (above) appearing to threaten an Orlando-style attack

Investigation: Two active-duty California-based Marines are under investigation for a social media post of a photo (above) appearing to threaten an Orlando-style attack

Maj. Staci Reidinger said Thursday that fellow Marines alerted officials to the post, and authorities were able to track down the Marine in the photograph and another one who reposted it.

According to the Marine Corps Times, the Facebook group's administrator deleted the post and banned the individual from the group.  

'We believe that it was a very insensitive and possibly dangerous photo that needed to be taken seriously given the nature of the possible threat,' the administrator, Michael Moss, said in an email.

Moss said the group receives about 3,000 posts a week.

'We rely on our members, who are comprised of all active duty and veteran service members, to help moderate, which they did,' Moss wrote. 

'As a group, we do not condone any type of hate speech or threats.'

Reidinger said the posting goes against Marine Corps values.

The men only group, Camp MENdleton, has roughly 25,000 members and is meant for those near the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton in San Diego. Above US Marines participate in an exercise at Camp Pendleton

The men only group, Camp MENdleton, has roughly 25,000 members and is meant for those near the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton in San Diego. Above US Marines participate in an exercise at Camp Pendleton

Maj. Staci Reidinger said Thursday that fellow Marines alerted officials to the post, and authorities were able to track down the Marine in the photograph and another one who reposted it Above US Marines participate in an exercise at Camp Pendleton

The Facebook group's administrator deleted the post and banned the individual from the group. Above US Marines participate in an exercise at Camp Pendleton

'This is a very serious incident and we see this as potential misconduct based on the fact in the picture is a US Marine and the person who reposted the picture also is a US Marine,' she said. 

'This goes against good order and discipline within the Marine Corps and the Marine Corps has a very high standard of not tolerating discrimination against any type of group.'

She added that fellow Marines policed their own by immediately reporting the post.

'It's an embarrassment to us,' Reidinger said of the post.

The post follows Sunday's horrific terror attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. 

Forty-nine people were killed and more than 50 injured when gunman Omar Mateen went on a shooting rampage inside Pulse nightclub. 

He was killed by authorities inside the nightclub.

Maj. Staci Reidinger said Thursday that fellow Marines alerted officials to the post, and authorities were able to track down the Marine in the photograph and another one who reposted it. Above a sign is pictured at Camp Pendleton

Maj. Staci Reidinger said Thursday that fellow Marines alerted officials to the post, and authorities were able to track down the Marine in the photograph and another one who reposted it. Above a sign is pictured at Camp Pendleton

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