School stab suspect was arrested days earlier

LOS ANGELES - An 18-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend in an area high school was arrested just days before the deadly attack for allegedly making criminal threats, police sources told CBS Station KCBS.

The victim, identified as 17-year-old Cindi Santana, was fatally stabbed Friday during a lunchtime fight in a courtyard at South East High School in South Gate, according to police.

Santana died at Saint Francis Medical Center hours later.

Girl stabbed at L.A.-area high school dies

Police sources confirmed that 18-year-old Abraham Lopez was arrested on Sept. 25, for allegedly making criminal threats. Lopez was bailed out two days later.

Investigators would not say if Lopez's initial arrest was at all related to Santana.

Friends and classmates of Santana gathered at the school Saturday evening, where a memorial was growing.

"I was telling her just, 'Close your eyes and pray with me,'" classmate Danielle Mendoza told KCBS. "She was just like, 'I'm not ready to go,' and she was crying. She was saying that 'it hurts so much' and he was basically screaming out, 'I loved you.'"

City News Service reports that grief counselors will be available to students and staffers at the school starting Sunday at about 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

Lopez, who has been booked on suspicion of murder, is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.