Concerned parents, students, teachers and residents of the community gathered Tuesday night at Sycamore Junior High Academy to discuss the fatal stabbing of a 12-year-old junior high school student who was killed Monday afternoon in Anaheim.
The victim, Juan Martinez, was a member of a graffiti crew and was involved in a dispute with a rival group. Late Monday night, Bryan Ocampo, 18, was arrested on suspicion of murder and is being held without bail.
Martinez, one month shy of his 13th birthday, had the tagger nickname of "R2D2" because of his short stature. He was doing well in school and dreamed of going to art school.
Friends and family members said Juan Martinez was a member of a graffiti crew called "Sky’s the Limit" or "STL." A rival Anaheim tagging crew used the name Downtown Anaheim or DTA. Friends said there was bad blood between the two crews.
Martinez was stabbed Monday afternoon in the 1500 block of East La Palma Avenue. Friends said he stumbled down the street before collapsing. One friend held him until paramedics arrived. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died a short time later.
He was stabbed several times. An autopsy was performed on Tuesday. The weapon has not been found.
Before Ocampo was arrested he posted on Facebook: "There's a big scene at the end of my street, cops everywhere - what the hell happened?"
A memorial for Martinez has been growing at the site of the fatal stabbing. Photos, candles and a school cap was a part of the scene.
The victim's sister called for the violence to stop.
"This is a good time for the community to step up and do something about this, because violence and crime is not necessary. We're going to do whatever we can to change this," says Elizabeth Martinez, Juan's sister. "This is going to be a new year, and we're gonna make a change. We can't have this happen ever again."
