Juvenile charged in murder of 14-year-old boy outside East LA school

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A 13-year-old boy accused of stabbing a 14-year-old student to death outside of an East Los Angeles middle school was charged with murder Tuesday.

The juvenile, whose name was not released, will appear in court Wednesday at the Eastlake Juvenile Courthouse.

Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies say the suspect fatally stabbed Steven Cruz on the steps of Griffith Middle School Friday.

Cruz attended Garfield High School, but his older sister tells Eyewitness News Cruz went to Griffith Middle School to pick up a friend.

The suspect, a reputed gang member, asked Cruz where he was from, then stabbed him in the torso.

Cruz's sister says witnesses told her another teen high-fived the suspect after the stabbing. Cruz was rushed to a local hospital, where he was declared dead.

Cruz's family and friends have set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses. You can donate here: www.gofundme.com/stevencruzlives.