Whittier police say a routine patrol near Esperanza Avenue and the 605 Freeway turned into a foot chase on Sunday, ending with two juveniles detained and a loaded handgun pulled from nearby bushes. One youth was caught while trying to run, officers said, and the second was found carrying a high-capacity magazine along with what police described as a large amount of marijuana.
Police detail the stop
According to a Facebook post by the Whittier Police Department, officers had been patrolling the area after noticing an uptick in gang-affiliated graffiti and spotting people loitering suspiciously near the residential cul-de-sac. When officers moved in, the juveniles reportedly bolted along a nearby pathway.
During the chase, police say one juvenile tossed an item into the bushes, which officers later found to be a loaded handgun. The post states that the second juvenile was caught while attempting to flee and was carrying a high-capacity magazine along with a large quantity of marijuana at the time of arrest.
Where it happened
The stop took place along Esperanza Avenue near the 605 Freeway, a stretch that has seen its share of serious trouble. The Los Angeles Times reported a fatal shooting in the same general area in July 2025, a reminder of why officers have kept a steady patrol presence in the corridor.
Legal context
Under California law, carrying a loaded firearm in public is a crime under Penal Code 25850, and state rules generally ban possession of large-capacity magazines under Penal Code 32310. Those statutes allow for enhanced penalties in certain situations, for example if the person is involved with a criminal street gang or if the firearm is stolen, and prosecutors can file the charges as misdemeanors or felonies depending on the circumstances.
Department's public account
The Whittier Police Department’s Facebook post does not name the juveniles or specify what charges they might face, and it remains the main public version of what happened. For more information or to share tips, residents can contact the Whittier Police Department.
