SANTA ANA, Calif. — Two teenagers, both students at a high school in Southern California, have presented themselves to law enforcement in connection with a deadly stabbing incident that took place near the school grounds. According to local authorities, the confrontation happened in front of the high school on Wednesday afternoon, resulting in the death of one student and injuries to two others.
Santa Ana Police Officer Natalie Garcia reported that the individuals, aged 15 and 17, approached the police hours after the incident to turn themselves in. They have both been taken into custody. Officer Garcia confirmed that no additional suspects are being sought in relation to the violent incident at Santa Ana High School.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the entire episode stems from gang-related activities, as indicated by Officer Garcia. The stabbing occurred at a time when students were dispersing from school for the day. Fermin Leal, representing the Santa Ana Unified School District, remarked that the reasons behind the altercation that led to the death of a 14-year-old student remain unclear at this early stage.
In response to the tragedy, all after-school programs and sporting events were canceled for the rest of the day on Wednesday. Classes were expected to resume on Thursday, with crisis counselors made available on the premises to support students and staff alike, according to Leal.
Santa Ana High School accommodates approximately 3,000 students. The city of Santa Ana, with a population of around 300,000 residents, is located about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles.