The parents of a teenager who was stabbed and murdered outside Santa Ana High School have filed a lawsuit against the Santa Ana Unified School District, claiming that administrators and school staff were unable to keep students safe despite frequent school assaults and previous warnings from authorities.
Jorge Morales and Brenda Abrut said Tuesday that their son, Armando Morales, was stabbed by a fellow student during the after-school fight last month.
“Due to the reckless and negligent supervision of Santa Ana High School, the student brought a knife to campus and killed 14-year-old Armando Morales on May 7, 2025,” the complaint states.
The altercation that led to Armando’s death was not the first fight on campus, according to the lawsuit. The parents’ lawyer said “almost every day, after school, almost every day, both on campus and off the campus.”
“As a mom, I thought my kids were safer in school than they were here on the street, but no, they failed me. They failed,” Aburuto said of the unification of Santa Ana.
Following the stab wound, the Santa Ana School Police Officers Association said school police “refunds” led to the death of teens as the school police department lacked staffing and resources to keep students safe.
“The district was actually slotted for 33 oath officers on the field available to protect and serve for departure and employment, but the district has actually become 19 oath officers,” the association claimed in a letter written in August 2023 that the police department is 45% below normal staffing levels.
Armando’s family said the school administrators bleed him in front of two friends rather than getting him help.
“I saw blood on Armando’s shirt,” said Alfredo Cantu, a friend who witnessed the fatal battle. “I was just shocked how someone could pull out the knife.”
The family’s lawyers also alleged that instead of giving lifesaving measures and asking questions to students, the assistant principal brought Armando.
“It’s my boy,” Abulto said. “I miss him every day.”
The two students, a 15- and 17-year-old brothers, later surrendered to the Santa Ana Police Station. They were booked at the Boys Hall for alleged murder and attempted murder.
In response, the Santa Ana Unified School District said it has received a legal claim and is considering it.
While refusing to comment on the case due to the possible litigation, the district said student safety and happiness was “first priority.”
“We continue to focus on maintaining a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students,” Santa Ana Unification said in a statement.
According to the lawsuit, the late teenage parents are seeking unspecified financial compensation.
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