A heated argument in Irvine, California, ended with two arrests after police say one man pulled what appeared to be a firearm on a group of people before fleeing the scene. Officers quickly located the suspects’ vehicle and detained both men without further incident.
According to the Irvine Police Department, officers responded Tuesday morning to a parking lot near Campus Drive and Bridge Road after receiving reports that a man had brandished a gun during an argument. Police said the suspect was accompanied by another man who also threatened to harm members of the group.
Investigators said the pair left the area in a vehicle before officers tracked them down a short time later. During the investigation, police recovered what they described as a realistic-looking pellet gun from inside the vehicle.
Authorities identified the suspects as 21-year-old Miguel Angelo Maya of Big Bear City and 20-year-old Angel Damian Ramirez of Riverside. Both were arrested on suspicion of brandishing a replica firearm and making criminal threats.
Police Say Replica Pellet Gun Was Found Inside Suspects’ Vehicle
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Image Credit: Irvine Police Department
The Irvine Police Department shared video from the incident, showing officers responding to the reported disturbance before locating the suspects. Although the department did not release many details about the argument itself, the footage shows officers taking both men into custody after stopping their vehicle.
Police said a realistic-looking pellet gun was recovered during the investigation. Replica firearms can often appear nearly identical to real handguns, making it difficult for victims, witnesses, and responding officers to distinguish between them during tense encounters.
Officials have not released additional information about what led to the confrontation or whether anyone was injured during the incident.
In the clip, you can quite literally see that the handgun was still on the driver’s side seat when officers went to go retrieve it.
Comments Praise Irvine Police While Speculating How Suspects Were Found
The department’s post quickly filled with praise for the officers involved, with many commenters congratulating Irvine police for locating the suspects so quickly. Several simply thanked the department for keeping the community safe, while others remarked that the agency has a reputation for taking threats seriously.
Others speculated about how officers were able to track the suspects down so quickly. Some guessed that license plate reader technology may have played a role, while others suggested a police drone could have assisted in locating the fleeing vehicle. Police have not said how the suspects were found.
Some commenters also focused on where the suspects were from, noting that neither lived in Irvine. Others joked that anyone thinking about committing a crime in the city should reconsider, while several pointed out that brandishing what appears to be a real firearm, even if it’s ultimately determined to be a pellet gun, can quickly escalate a dangerous situation.