Three students from Santa Ana High School were hospitalized Wednesday, May 7, after being stabbed near campus, shortly after class was dismissed for the day. One later died, broadcast reports said.
Santa Ana Unified School District spokesperson Fermin Leal said the students were involved in an altercation shortly after 3 p.m., which led to a stabbing outside the high school in a parking lot shared with Martin R. Heninger Elementary School. Three teens were hospitalized, including the one who died, police said.
Suspects in the altercation are also believed to be students from Santa Ana High School, Santa Ana Police Officer Natalie Garcia said. Police were seeking two suspects, Garcia said.
“The Santa Ana Police Department and Santa Ana School Police are actively investigating the matter. Out of an abundance of caution, all after-school activities have been canceled for today. Please be assured that there is no immediate threat to the school or surrounding area. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority,” the school district said in a statement.
Additional details on the victims and the circumstances leading up to the altercation were unavailable.
District officials said crisis counselors will be available on campus Thursday to support any students who may need assistance processing the event.
“We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. Thank you for your understanding and continued support,” officials said.