The investigation at the scene revealed that Murillo and the suspect were involved in a verbal dispute, which quickly escalated to a physical dispute.
Friends and family are grieving the horrific death of a 13-year-old, who passed after being fatally stabbed earlier this week during an altercation with another group of teenagers. The group of teenagers attacked Marco Murillo Jr., 13, as he was eating lunch at Chick-fil-A near 7th and Flower streets, Los Angeles, on the evening of January 11, according to his mother Lorena Lopez, who spoke to ABC7.
After being stabbed, he was taken to the hospital. He passed away soon after. "Marco was a good kid, with good intentions and a good soul," said the boy's aunt, Alexis Lopez. There is no evidence, according to his mother, that her son knew the other assailants. "As far as I know my son's never seen these guys a day in his life," Lorena Lopez said. "My son's never seen these guys. I've never seen them."
Candles have been placed along a sidewalk in downtown Los Angeles as friends and family mourn the loss of a 13-year-old who was fatally stabbed in a confrontation with another group of teens earlier this week. 💔🙏🏻 https://t.co/xnQRgXxZ6D pic.twitter.com/6KHIjOwrGI
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) January 13, 2023
In a press statement on Friday, the Los Angeles Police Department requested assistance from the public in identifying the killer of Marco Murillo Jr. At the junction of 7th Street and Flower Street on Wednesday at 5:40 p.m. local time, Transit Services Division LAPD officers saw a violent incident involving multiple juveniles, according to the LAPD's statement. Marco had been stabbed in the abdomen when the responding officers arrived on the scene to defuse the situation.
The police phoned for an ambulance and "Officers immediately provided medical treatment." Marco was taken urgently to a nearby hospital. He was going to have surgery, but he passed away before the surgery by the time he reached the hospital. "The investigation at the scene revealed that Murillo and the suspect were involved in a verbal dispute, which quickly escalated to a physical dispute. During the dispute, the suspect stabbed Murillo with an unidentified cutting instrument. The suspect ran from the scene, eastbound on 7th Street," the LAPD explained.
"He was so loved," said Amanda Patterson, a family friend, adding that the 13-year-old "was so helpful and wonderful." The pain reflected on the people gathered in the vigil to pay tribute to Marco shows how much they want justice for Marco. "Whoever did this I would hope they would turn themselves in," Patterson said. "It's the right thing to do. The mom doesn't deserve to bury her 13-year-old son."
His family’s GoFundMe is here: https://t.co/yuBouUIq42 https://t.co/eMJBcWVmHc
— middle child in the ever circling skeletal family (@newkillastar) January 16, 2023
A GoFundMe set up for Marrillo's family describes the teen as a "wonderful kid with a very bright life ahead of him," adding that he will "always be known as a kid with a big smile, contagious laugh and a great heart." The campaign is requesting assistance for funeral and memorial expenses for the teenager.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Det. Gonzales of the Los Angeles Police Department at (213) 996-4142. Call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS to provide anonymous information.
References:
https://www.lapdonline.org/newsroom/lapd-detectives-seek-to-identify-murder-suspect-nr23007mc/
https://abc7.com/7th-and-flower-stabbing-downtown-los-angeles-chick-fil-a-lapd/12696137/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/with-putting-our-loved-one-to-rest
Cover Image Source: GoFundMe
