Boy, 13, Charged With Stabbing Student To Death Outside Griffith Middle School In East LA
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A 13-year-old boy was charged Tuesday in the fatal stabbing of a 14-year-old high school student outside a middle school in East L.A.
Steven Cruz was killed Friday afternoon as he was walking home from Garfield High School.
He had stopped at Griffith Middle School to see some friends when the 13-year-old approached him.
The suspect allegedly asked Cruz where he was from, which is a common tactic by gang members to determine gang affiliation, before stabbing him in the torso.
LAPD is not identifying the suspect because he's been charged as a juvenile. They say he's a reputed gang member.
The suspect was charged with murder and was expected to appear in court Wednesday at the Eastlake Juvenile Courthouse.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the LACSD's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous tips can be made by calling "Crime Stoppers" at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). Tips can also be left anonymously online at lacrimestoppers.org.