4 Teens Accused of Shooting at Park Ducks

COSTA MESA — Police have arrested two teenagers and plan to arrest two others on suspicion of using pellet guns to shoot ducks at TeWinkle Park this week.

Officers went to the park on Arlington Drive about 7 p.m. Wednesday after neighbors reported seeing four boys shooting at ducks on the pond, Lt. Ron Smith said. Police arrested a 15-and a 16-year-old on suspicion of cruelty to animals and discharging a pellet gun in the city.

The other two juveniles have been identified and arrests are “imminent,’ Smith said. Their names have not been released, but Smith said all four are students at Costa Mesa High School and live near the park.

Smith said the teenagers used a BB gun but “no injured or killed ducks have been found.”

The boys do not appear to be responsible for the pellet gun shootings at the same park on two nights several weeks ago which left more than a dozen water birds dead or injured, Smith said. The previous shootings involved a rifle with pellets, Smith said, and last week’s involved a handgun with BBs.

In the span of one week in March, 10 ducks, one black crown night heron and one goose were found shot to death at the park. Two more geese recovered after undergoing surgery.

Police and park officials stepped up their patrol of the area, but there were no witnesses and no arrests were made.

Each count of cruelty to animals is a felony, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $20,000 fine. Discharging a pellet gun within city limits is a misdemeanor.

Both boys arrested Wednesday were released to their parents pending further action, Smith said.