Two brothers attending Santa Ana High School have been arrested in a stabbing incident on campus that killed one student and two others injured.
The brothers, 17 and 15, appeared at the police headquarters with their parents and turned around several hours after a fatal stabbing late Wednesday, according to Santa Ana police officer Natalie Garcia.
She said the two teenagers were questioned and then arrested and transported to the teenage hall, each of whom was booked for suspected murder and attempted murder. The weapons used in the attack remain missing, she said.
The incident occurred Wednesday at 3:25 p.m. when Santa Ana School police reported stabbings in a previous battle at Santa Ana High School.
At least three male students, 14, 15 and 16, were found and transported to local hospitals by fire care workers.
Police said the 14-year-old died of injuries and two other victims were listed as stable.
Orange County coroner officials identified the murdered boy as Armando Morales of Santa Ana, whose family created a Gofundme page to raise funeral expenses.
Misael Morales wrote on the website that his brother was a happy and smart kid known for making people laugh.
Jazmin Delgado, the victim’s cousin, responded to these words in an interview with ABC 7.
“He has always been a happy child, always likes to help, just an amazing little kid,” Delgado told the station. The teenager was in the wrong position at the wrong time. They said he was stepping in to help his friend when he was stabbed.
According to Garcia, homicide investigators believe the five teenagers involved were suspected of gang members and are investigating gang-related stabbings. But the reasons for the confrontation are still under investigation.
Investigators also believed that a weapon was used in the attack and that it could not be found, she said.
Homicide detectives are continuing to investigate the stabbing and ask any potential witnesses to call (714) 245-8390 or contact investigators at 1-855-TIP-OCC.
