Tustin, California – A small explosion caused panic at The Village at Tustin Legacy shopping center in Orange County Tuesday afternoon, leading to the evacuation of shoppers. The blast, which occurred around 1:15 p.m. near the Bank of America on Kensington Park Drive, was later determined to have been caused by an illegal, mortar-like firework.
According to authorities, the firework produced a loud boom that could be heard from miles away, prompting the response of the Orange County Bomb Squad, Sheriff’s Department, and Tustin Police. One person was taken into custody, but it was unclear whether there were any injuries.
The shopping center, located on Edinger Avenue near the 5 Freeway and Highway 261, is not far from the historical Tustin Blimp Hangars. The incident comes after one of the hangars was engulfed in flames in 2023.
The scene was chaotic as emergency responders secured the area and shoppers were left shaken by the unexpected explosion. The incident is under ongoing investigation, and authorities continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds. This is a developing story, and more details will be furnished as soon as they become available.