Ninth suspect held in connection with shooting

A ninth person, a Costa Mesa man, was arrested Friday evening in connection with a Costa Mesa shooting, Police Lt. Dale Birney said.

Jesse Benitez, 18, was arrested at about 5:45 p.m. Friday on suspicion of being with a 17-year-old Newport Beach boy who allegedly shot at a group of rival gang members driving in a Toyota Camry on Wednesday evening, Birney said.

Benitez is being held at Costa Mesa Jail without bail. He was also booked on a juvenile warrant.

Benitez was allegedly involved in a rival gang shooting. Police had no other information Saturday about Benitez’s suspected involvement in Wednesday’s shooting, which took place at Pomona Avenue and James Street on the Westside.

Six of the others arrested on suspicion of being involved in the incident are under 18.

Costa Mesa residents Michael Seward and Deyvis Ramirez-Rivera, both 18, pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of possessing a deadly weapon — what prosecutors called a Billy — and street terror, which includes participation in a gang, prosecutors said.

— Amanda Pennington