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Job Counselor Stabbed to Death in Office, Student in Custody [UPDATED]
Photo by carl ballou via Shutterstock
Dwayne Alexander, a program adviser at the Job Corps facility in Hollywood, died Wednesday afternoon after being stabbed multiple times in his office on campus. The suspect, a 22-year-old student who others say had been acting strangely lately, is in custody for the killing.
Alexander has been described by other students at the vocational school as being a "father figure" and a "great guy" who helped them get settled at the facility, according to ABC7.
"Witnesses said the scene was gruesome, and that the victim was stabbed in the head, along with other parts of his body," notes KTLA. People on scene, including possibly students and staff, held the attacker down before the authorities arrived.
Job Corps "provides training in such areas as computers and mechanics," according to City News Service. Programs last a year, and students live in on-campus dorms, in facilities shared with the YWCA.
The suspect, whose name has not been released, was enrolled at the school and lived in the dorms.
"I guess he was being a little nasty, a little weird lately. I don't really know why he would snap," said Alex Osuna, a former Job Corps student, according to ABC7.
Alexander was taken to Cedars Sinai Medical Center where he died.
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Current and former students on scene were devastated, according to multiple reports, and many too shaken about seeing their "beloved" Mr. A hurt to speak to the press. Grief counselors are on hand to help students at the facility cope.
A motive for the attack is under investigation.
UPDATE 3:13 PM The suspect has been identified as Freddy Leyva.
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