Man thought to have been carrying a rifle voluntarily surrenders to police, claims it was a BB gun
A 25-year-old Burbank man is in custody after allegedly pointing a fake firearm at a mother and son late Thursday morning, authorities said.
Jose Luevanos was arrested on suspicion of displaying an imitation firearm in a threatening manner after police received a call at around 11:40 a.m. about a man armed with an assault rifle in the 1200 block of North Reese Place, according to Burbank police Sgt. Derek Green.
Luevanos reportedly pointed the weapon at a 47-year-old woman and her 17-year-old son.
Police soon established a perimeter around Luevanos’ home.
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“With the assistance of an air-support unit, several verbal announcements were made instructing the suspect to exit the home,” Green said. “A short time later, the suspect approached officers on foot and surrendered.”
Luevanos was detained shortly before 1 p.m. He told officers he doesn’t own a real firearm and that he was actually holding a BB gun.
Detectives searched his home and recovered an airsoft gun made to resemble an automatic-assault rifle.
Nearby Monterey High School briefly postponed its dismissal time for students while officers responded to the incident.
Principal Ann Brooks said it wasn’t an actual lockdown, but still done out of safety concerns. Students remained on campus a little less than 30 minutes past their 12:55 p.m. dismissal time.
“We consulted with the police, and we felt that holding onto the kids until [the police] finished what they were doing was for the best,” Brooks said.
Luevanos is currently held in lieu of $15,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday.
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Andy Nguyen, andy.nguyen@latimes.com
Twitter: @Andy_Truc
