Ventura police arrest three Buena High students in online threat trend
Two 15-year-olds and one 14-year-old, all Ventura residents, were arrested for creating and sharing videos that appeared to target Buena High School students.
Ventura police arrested three Buena High School students for creating and disseminating threatening videos that appeared to target students at the school, part of a nationwide trend involving similar content.
The videos. On the evening of Sept. 14, 2026, the Ventura Police Department received information about videos depicting the Cat in the Hat character making ominous threats toward students and schools, according to the department's Sept. 15 news release. The videos appeared to be part of a nationwide trend involving similar content.
The investigation. Patrol officers immediately began investigating the source of the videos and identified a possible connection to Buena High School. Ventura Police detectives and school resource officers continued the investigation, ultimately identifying three Buena High School students as suspects in the creation and dissemination of the videos.
The arrests. The suspects are two 15-year-olds and one 14-year-old, all Ventura residents. All three were contacted and arrested for making criminal threats and conspiracy to commit a crime. Two of the three were also arrested for destruction of evidence.
No active threat. Currently, there is no belief that there is a threat to the school or the community, the department said.
How to help. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Fabian Gutierrez with VPD's Major Crimes Unit at 805-339-4428.
More from Public Safety
Ventura PD investigating fatal single-vehicle crash on Harbor Boulevard
A driver died early Sept. 6 when his car veered into the center median on Harbor Boulevard south of Olivas Park Drive, struck palm trees, and caught fire.
Transient woman arrested after battery on Cabrillo Middle student
A woman from Los Angeles was arrested Tuesday after Ventura Police determined she pushed a student while causing a disturbance at Cabrillo Middle School.
Three arrested in Thousand Oaks pool-area assault
Julio Trevino, Adan Domingo, and Ivan Domingo were arrested for a violent assault at the Oakview Apartment Homes complex on Hampshire Road early Aug. 28.
Thousand Oaks man arrested with meth, marijuana and pills after narcotics investigation
Jarrod Emmons, 43, of Thousand Oaks, was arrested Sept. 8 after detectives found approximately a half-pound of methamphetamine, a pound of marijuana, 14 hydrocodone pills, and $940 in cash.