Students wrestle gun away from California student

Students took a gun away from a University of Southern California student who had been asked to leave an off-campus party after threatening a young woman.

Photo: Students wrestle gun away from California student

Zao Xing Yang, 19, was arrested Sunday and booked for investigation of illegal possession of a firearm, Chief William Bratton said. Yang was held without bail and was to appear in court Tuesday afternoon.

"At one point, the host of the party asked Yang to leave after he was heard making intimidating statements to the coed and then threatening her with violence," Bratton said. "Yang began arguing with the host and that's when he noticed Yang had a gun in his hand. Several students wrestled the gun away from Yang and held him until campus security and then (Los Angeles Police Department) officers arrived."

On Monday, detectives searched Yang's off-campus room and found a safe containing methamphetamine packaged for sale, a 44-caliber Magnum revolver and several hundred dollars in cash, Bratton said.

Investigators planned to ask prosecutors to charge Yang with making terrorist threats, possession of unregistered firearms and possession of illegal narcotics for sale, Bratton said.