Parents Blame Son's Death On Campus Administrator: Orange County School Stabbing

SANTA ANA, CA — Attorneys for a 14-year-old boy fatally stabbed outside Santa Ana High School last month alleged Tuesday that an assistant principal told a student not to put pressure on the victim's wound until paramedics arrived, allowing the teen to bleed to death.

School district officials also ignored warnings from the union representing Santa Ana police that there was not enough supervision on campus, according to a damages claim filed with the district Monday on behalf of the teen's family. The claim is a precursor to a possible lawsuit.

School district officials released a statement in response, saying, "The Santa Ana Unified School District has received and is reviewing the legal claim. As this matter may involve potential litigation, the district is unable to provide further comment involving this claim. The safety and well-being of our students remains our highest priority. We continue focused on maintaining a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment for all students."

Attorney Luis A. Carrillo told reporters at a news conference Tuesday that one of Armando Morales' friends was attempting to apply pressure to his chest wound when he was ordered to get away from the victim by Assistant Principal Victor De Los Santos, who did not try to tend to the wound himself.

"This administration was more worried about the reputation of the school district than the life of the child," Carrillo said.

Attorney Michael S. Carrillo said the school district put two other teens who were also stabbing victims through the expulsion process.

A claim is a legally required part of the process when suing a government agency. The district has 45 days to respond before the family can sue.

Armando's mother, Brenda Aburto, told reporters at a news conference outside the school where the stabbing happened May 7, "This could have been prevented. ... Where was the principal? Where was the assistant principal? I'm very mad at the district. I'm very, very disappointed with them."

She added she felt her son was safe at school.

"My fear was outside in the streets," she said. "My fear was not in here. I was thinking my child was safer in school than on the streets, but they failed me."

Armando's mother said, "I miss my child. My fourth child. My baby boy. I miss him every day emotionally and mentally. There are days I don't sleep at all."

The melee broke out as students were let out for the day about 3:20 p.m. in the shared parking lot of the neighboring Heninger Elementary School at 417 W. Walnut St., police said.

Three students, all boys who were 14, 15 and 16 years old, were taken to a hospital, where Armando later died.

Police said the deadly conflict was gang-related, with the defendant, a 14-year-old boy whose name was not released because of his age, and his big brother considered documented gang members, police said. The other boys, except for Armando, were associated with a rival gang, police alleged.

Michael Carrillo said Armando "tried to protect another student," prompting the accused to "start shanking" him.

"This was a murder that shouldn't have happened," Michael Carrillo said, adding the teen could have been saved with more timely first aid.

Armando's friend since sixth grade, Alfredo Cantu, said he "saw a crowd fighting, ... I saw Armando push away (someone) trying to defend (his friend). ... People were running and screaming."

He said the students "didn't know what to do. ... No one expects a stabbing at a young age."

Armando was "very kind. He treated everyone with respect," his friend said.

The claim alleges that the school district was "totally negligent in failing to provide proper supervision for the students of the Santa Ana High School campus, including Armando Morales. ... Because of the reckless and negligent supervision of Santa Ana High School, a student brought a knife on campus and murdered 14-year-old Armando Morales on May 7, 2025."

The Aug. 23, 2023, letter from the police union spelled out "the failure by the district to provide a safe and secure campus," the claim alleged. "Specifically, that letter highlighted after-school assaults which was listed as the top major incidents occurring with a limited ability to respond."

The claim alleged there were "fights almost every day during and after school hours" at the school.

The claim also accused school officials of failing to do proper training of staff to better protect students and preventing weapons being brought on campus.

Security was increased after the stabbings, which the claim alleged was an admittance the district failed to protect students.