4 questioned in Newport theater scare released to their parents as investigation continues

Four young people questioned this week by Newport Beach police about a movie theater scare involving a leaf blower have been released to their parents.

Police Lt. Jeff Brouwer said Friday that detectives still are investigating the Aug. 8 incident in which an intruder entered a screening of “The Gift” at Edwards Big Newport 6, raised a leaf blower and yelled. The act caused many moviegoers to panic, believing the leaf blower was a gun or chainsaw. The person with the blower is believed to have been let in through an exit door by someone in the theater, police said.

“No charges have been filed,” Brouwer said. “We’re still going through the case to determine the appropriate way to go forward.”

Newport police have described the four “persons of interest” as three males and one female 15 to 20 years old. They turned themselves in for questioning this week after police released surveillance photos of them following an incident in Irvine that occurred shortly before the theater scare.

In the Irvine case, the four started a leaf blower at an In-N-Out Burger and pointed it at bystanders to “elicit a reaction,” according to police.