Key Points:
- Two brothers, aged 15 and 17, surrendered to police after a deadly stabbing at Santa Ana High School.
- A 14-year-old student died, and two brothers, aged 15 and 16, were hospitalized but are in stable condition.
- The incident is suspected to be gang-related, prompting heightened security and counseling services at the school.
Two teenage brothers turned themselves in to Santa Ana police Wednesday evening following a deadly stabbing outside Santa Ana High School that left one student dead and two others injured.
The suspects, aged 15 and 17, were arrested hours after the violent altercation, which occurred around 3:25 p.m. just as students were leaving college for the day. Santa Ana Police Department spokesperson Natalie Garcia confirmed the arrests and stated that both teens face charges of murder and attempted murder. They have been taken to Juvenile Hall for processing.
Authorities identified the student who died as 14-year-old Armando Morales. Two other victims, brothers aged 15 and 16, were treated for stab wounds and remain in stable condition. The motive behind the attack has not been officially confirmed, but police have indicated that the violence appears to be gang-related.
“This was a senseless act of violence that has deeply impacted our community,” Garcia said. “At this time, we believe no other suspects are involved.”
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In response to the incident, all after-school activities were canceled on Wednesday. Santa Ana Unified School District officials assured parents that classes would resume Thursday with crisis counselors available to support grieving students and staff.
In a statement, the district expressed its sorrow: “#SAUSD is heartbroken to confirm that one of the students injured in an incident outside Santa Ana High School this afternoon has tragically passed away. Our thoughts are with the family of all the students impacted.”
Friends and family gathered at the site of the stabbing to honor Morales’s memory. “I think I’m still processing it,” said Aaron Chavez, a close friend of Morales. “He was the kind of person who made everyone laugh. I just wish I had hugged him that morning.”
Santa Ana High School, serving about 3,000 students, is located approximately 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles in a city of around 300,000 residents. Police have assured the community that there is no ongoing threat to the school or surrounding areas.