Crime
14-year-old Armando Morales killed in stabbing outside Santa Ana High School
SANTA ANA, Calif. — A 14-year-old student, identified by friends as Armando Morales, was killed and two other teenage boys were injured in a stabbing that occurred outside Santa Ana High School on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD).
The violent incident unfolded at approximately 3:25 p.m., shortly after the school day had ended.
Police say the three victims—ages 14, 15, and 16—were attacked in front of the campus, prompting an emergency response.
All three were transported to a local hospital, where the 14-year-old succumbed to his injuries.
The other two victims remain hospitalized and are reported to be in stable condition.
Authorities have launched a search for two suspects believed to be involved in the attack.
While initial reports indicate that all parties—victims and suspects—are students at Santa Ana High School, that detail has not been definitively confirmed.
Investigators are exploring the possibility that the attack was gang-related, although the precise motive remains under investigation.
Officers are currently reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Aaron Chavez, a friend of the deceased, described Armando as a kind-hearted and humorous teenager, expressing deep sorrow over the loss. “He didn’t deserve this. He was a good kid,” Chavez said.
In response to the incident, the Santa Ana Unified School District issued a statement to families assuring them that there is no active threat to the school or the surrounding community. “The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority,” the statement read.
All after-school activities were canceled for the day, and crisis counselors will be available on campus starting Thursday to provide emotional support and resources for students and staff affected by the tragedy.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Santa Ana Police Department.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.