UPDATE 2: The Irvine Police Department is investigating the tragic death of a juvenile after an incident involving a firearm

Friday, March 28, 2025

Irvine, Calif. (March 28, 2025, 2:00 p.m.) – Our investigation has determined that the 13-year-old victim and a friend were visiting a juvenile resident at the location on Heathergreen. In addition to the three teens, a female adult was present inside the home at the time. The suspect arrested in this case, Christian Douglas Yeager, was not home during the incident.

It is believed the gun involved was unsecured, loaded, and resting on a nightstand in plain view within Yeager's bedroom. During the investigation, Detectives recovered numerous unsecured firearms from the same bedroom. All weapons recovered were determined to belong to Yeager.

At this time, we do not plan to have any more information to share on this case.

Irvine, Calif. (March 28, 2025, 4:00 a.m.) – As the result of our ongoing investigation, Christian Douglas Yeager, 56, of Irvine, was arrested and booked at Orange County Jail on the following charges:

  • Penal Code 25100(a) – Criminal storage of a firearm
  • Penal Code 273a(a) – Child endangerment

Irvine, Calif. (March 27, 2025) – Today, at 2:42 p.m., the Irvine Police Department and Orange County Fire Authority responded to a residence in the area of Heathergreen and Weepingwood regarding a juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. When officers arrived, they found an injured juvenile and immediately began rendering medical aid. Sadly, he died a short time later.

Preliminarily, Detectives believe the injury was self-inflicted. Whether the injury was intentional or accidental remains under investigation. The victim did not live at the residence. We are trying to understand what occurred before the incident.

The Irvine Police Department is working closely with the Irvine Unified School District and offering support and resources to their students and staff at Southlake Middle School.

To learn more about firearms safety, please visit: https://www.cityofirvine.org/department-administration/firearms-safety. Complimentary gun locks are available at the Irvine Police Department Business Desk.

The name of the deceased is being withheld, pending notification to the next of kin. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Steen at rsteen@cityofirvine.org.