2 arrested after possible threat aimed at Estancia High School in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa police arrested a man and a girl Tuesday morning after authorities were alerted to social-media posts that they say involved a possible threat to Estancia High School.

Authorities were alerted at about 11:10 p.m. Monday to the post, which showed a person holding what looked like a rifle with a caption reading, “Don’t go to school tomorrow” and a second post claiming there would be a “mass shooting” at the school on Dec. 5.

Detectives alerted the school’s resource officers, administrators and district personnel.

Police said the posts were shared on many different social-media sites.

Classes were in session on Tuesday, though authorities had said there would be more of a police presence and patrols at the campus, at 2323 Placentia Ave., and around the area, while police investigated “the validity of the threat.”

Later that morning, detectives identified and arrested a 17-year-old female Estancia High School student responsible for one of the posts, police said. The man, Lenny Vega, was arrested as well.

“The investigation revealed the original post was made by Lenny Vega and sent to others, including the juvenile suspect,” police said in a statement.

The girl then did the other, related post.

Vega, 18, is not an Estancia High School student. Both are from Costa Mesa.

They were booked on suspicion of terrorist threats.

Two homes were searched during the investigation and a BB-gun air rifle was recovered. It was the weapon used in the social-media post, police said.

“In light of these arrests, there is no credible threat to Estancia High School,” police said.