Crisis Counselors Visit High School After Fatal Stabbing

Screenshot (ABC 7)

Crisis counselors will be available to students and staffers today at South East High School in South Gate in response to Friday's fatal stabbing.

Cindy Santana, 17, was stabbed by her 18-year-old ex-boyfriend Abraham Lopez around 11am on Friday. The brutal incident occurred during lunch break in full view of students and faculty. Lopez, weighing in at 250 pounds, easily overpowered Santana in the altercation. "During the argument (Lopez) began suddenly striking (Santana) with his fists and then pushed her to the ground," Deputy Benjamin Grubb of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau said in a statement, reports The Daily Breeze. "The suspect then stabbed the victim several times before being subdued."

Varsity football player Jorge Garcia and a female dean were injured while trying to stop Lopez's attack. A cut on Garcia's arm required 15 stitches to close the wound.

Santana died on Friday night during surgery at St. Francis Medical Center.

Counselors will be on campus from about 1pm until 5pm today.

Lopez, who has since been held without bail at the Men's Central Jail in Downtown L.A., is expected to be arraigned today on a charge of murder.