Suspect identified in L.A. elementary school shooting threat

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Los Angeles police on Monday identified the man arrested in connection with a Facebook post that threatened shootings at multiple area elementary schools.

Kyle Bangayan, 24, of Pomona, was arrested Sunday at his parents’ home in the 1200 block of North New Hampshire Avenue in East Hollywood, LAPD said. He was booked on suspicion of making criminal threats and held on $500,000 bail.

Los Angeles police officers and FBI agents seized ammunition and nine guns from the parents’ home, including rifles, a shotgun and multiple handguns, the LAPD said. Bangayan’s Pomona home was searched, but ‘no related evidence’ or weapons were found, authorities said.

The LAPD said the threats were not specific to a school but did reference a deadly shooting in Newtown, Conn., Friday in which a gunman killed 20 children and six adults. Bangayan’s alleged threat referenced ‘kindergarten and elementary school kids,’ sources said.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing. The arrest came the same day that LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced daily dedicated patrols around Los Angeles schools to protect against potential shooters. The increased security will begin when students return to classes in January from winter break, he said.

Beck’s announcement was in response to the Newtown shooting, in which suspect Adam Lanza opened fire Friday after killing his mother at her home. Authorities said Lanza killed himself after the attack.

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