Xavier Cerf dies in fatal Los Angeles stabbing incident
Xavier Cerf dies in fatal Los Angeles stabbing incident
Fatal Los Angeles stabbing death of Xavier Cerf – Obituary
The family of Xavier Cerf, a man fatally stabbed by a USC student, has voiced their concerns following Los Angeles County prosecutors’ decision not to press criminal charges. Cerf, 28, was allegedly involved in a car break-in near the USC campus, leading to his confrontation with 19-year-old Ivan Gallegos.
On a street populated by fraternity and sorority houses, Cerf was caught on surveillance footage entering a 2010 Mercedes Benz. When the car’s alarm sounded, Gallegos, who was nearby, responded with two companions. He later told authorities that he had armed himself with a knife due to the area’s reputation for violence and past crimes against students. The altercation ensued after Cerf supposedly threatened Gallegos by claiming he had a gun and making a move towards his waistband—a claim supported by Gallegos’s witnesses.
According to the DA’s office, there is no evidence that Cerf was armed. Gallegos, asserting self-defense, used the knife and inflicted four stab wounds, including one to Cerf’s chest. The DA’s office decided against filing charges, citing the self-defense claim.
“We believe that Mr. Gallegos’s actions were driven by a genuine fear for his life and the lives of others,” said Venusse D. Dunn, a spokeswoman for the DA’s office. “Our hearts go out to the deceased’s family, friends, and everyone affected by this tragic event.”
Despite this, Cerf’s family is dismayed by the decision. Detorrian Jones, Cerf’s uncle, argued that the situation did not constitute self-defense as Cerf was unarmed. “I’m so sorry. That doesn’t give you the right,” he stated.
Xavier Cerf dies in fatal Los Angeles stabbing incident Fatal Los Angeles stabbing death of Xavier Cerf – Obituary The family of Xavier Cerf, a man fatally stabbed by a USC student, has voiced their concerns following Los Angeles County prosecutors’ decision not to press criminal charges. Cerf, 28, was allegedly involved in a car…
Xavier Cerf dies in fatal Los Angeles stabbing incident Fatal Los Angeles stabbing death of Xavier Cerf – Obituary The family of Xavier Cerf, a man fatally stabbed by a USC student, has voiced their concerns following Los Angeles County prosecutors’ decision not to press criminal charges. Cerf, 28, was allegedly involved in a car…