19-year-old USC student arrested after fatal knife attack on identified burglary suspect

A 19-year-old University of Southern California business student who was arrested Monday night on suspicion of murder in connection with the fatal stabbing attack of a burglary suspect on USC’s Greek Row in Los Angeles has been identified.

The incident was reported around 8:15 p.m. in the 700 block of West 28th Street in the University Park neighborhood.

Arriving officers found an unidentified man in his 30s with stab wounds in an alley. He was later pronounced dead at the scene, Los Angeles Police Department officials confirmed.

Authorities say the Boyle Heights native, who is now in custody, and two friends observed the 27-year-old homeless man breaking into cars. The 19-year-old allegedly confronted the man with a knife and then stabbed him.

Gallegos, who has no criminal record and remained at the scene to cooperate with law enforcement, told police he acted in self-defense and that the 27-year-old burglary suspect said he was armed with a gun.

The 19-year-old’s friends, who were with him at the time, were not arrested.

A housekeeper for Delta Tau Delta fraternity said everyone in the house was very concerned about the incident.

“They are upset, sad and worried,” she told KTLA’s Omar Lewis. “Like I said, it’s a great tragedy for both families.”

Some Greek Row residents say they are nervous because of previous incidents involving property crimes here and because the alley where the stabbing took place is near a homeless encampment.

“If something like this happens again, a lot more students will want to be proactive,” Greek Row resident Liam Shit told KTLA. “I don’t even know what I would have done in that situation.”

Another student, a building manager on Greek Row, just two houses down Delta Tau Delta, told KTLA that her building had been broken into and that the incident had caused confusion and questions among other students.

“Yesterday someone lost their life and I feel terrible that this happened,” said the student, identified only as Allison. “At the same time, I’m a student myself. I’m a woman. I think that all of us as students, all of us, are in a vulnerable position. What are you supposed to do, wait until the gun is pulled out in front of you?”

Gallegos, on the other hand, who is being held on $2 million bail, faces an uncertain future.