A Marine was gunned down and killed on Thursday morning in a hilly area of San Clemente, The Los Angeles Times reported.

Police wouldn’t release the identity of the active-duty Marine, whose body was found lying in a drainage ditch. The Marine was wearing desert fatigues commonly used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Police investigators also found the dead man’s hat nearby according to Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jim Amormino

The Marine was hit by bullets in the upper torso and was laying face down, the Country Sheriff's Department spokesman added.

Investigators of the case said all evidence point to the fact that the Marine was killed at the spot where his body was found.

The dead body was discovered by a doctor who was walking on a trail near the 1000 block of Calle Cordillera. The doctor said he saw the lying body from about 40 yards away.

According to police estimations, the man had been killed less than 24 hours, Amormino said.

The Marine was 21 years old, married and he lived in Sacramento. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Amormino said. The man’s identity will continue to be withheld by authorities until his wife can be notified by military officials.

Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents are assisting sheriff's investigators.