2 Arrested Following Threat To High School In Costa Mesa

COSTA MESA, CA — Police arrested man and a girl in connection with a threat to Estancia High School in Costa Mesa Tuesday morning. Following a threat posted to social media, authorities beefed up police presence and patrols around the campus Tuesday.

Police acted quickly after receiving reports of the threat shortly before midnight Monday. Authorities determined that the arrests eliminated any threat to threat to the school, which remained open Tuesday. Detectives recovered a BB gun at the time of the arrests.

Detectives "immediately began to investigate the social media post," according to a Costa Mesa Police Department statement.

"The CMPD school resource officer, school administrators and (Newport- Mesa Unified School) District personnel were made aware of the possible threat. Detectives have arrested two in connection to the social media post, which showed a picture of what appeared to be a weapon. We also took into possession the BB gun used in the post."

Lenny Vega, 18, of Costa Mesa and his friend, a 17-year-old Costa Mesa girl, were arrested Tuesday morning, said Roxi Fyad of the Costa Mesa Police Department. They were booked on suspicion of terrorist threats.

Vega is not a student at Estancia, but the girl is a student at the high school, she said.

"In light of these arrests, there is no credible threat to Estancia High School," police said. "At this time, this is an active investigation. This morning, CMPD will increase police presence and patrols at and around the campus. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District has made notifications about this incident to their Estancia High School staff, parents and students."

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.