Body found on beach had shotgun blast to the head

The body of a 20-year-old Santa Ana man who killed himself was found on the beach Thursday morning, police said.

Andrew Russell was found on the beach about 7:15 a.m. at the waterline of 16th Street and West Oceanfront in Newport Beach after suffering what police referred to as a single gunshot wound to the head, according to authorities. The shotgun was found beside him on the beach, police said.

The apparent suicide occurred near a neighborhood heavily populated by drug and alcohol rehabilitation homes. Investigators said, however, that Russell was not a client at any, police said.

Police are still investigating.

— Daniel Tedford