School was difficult for many students at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach Friday as they struggled to cope with news of a classmate’s stabbing death.
Friends said 15-year-old Keshawn Brooks was better than the violent way he died.
"It's a sad moment. We lost one of our friends," said Isaias Cazal.
Brooks was stabbed by an 18-year-old man who tried to take the younger boy’s backpack just blocks from school Thursday.
"He had a lot of friends," Cazal said.
Cazal said students were coming together, trying to support Brooks’ closest friends.
"We used to always laugh and play around," Brianna Franklin remembered. "He was just someone we could talk to."
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Extra security and grief counselors were on hand Friday. Parents said even though an arrest had been made, they welcomed the added protection.
"If he was just going home and not doing anything -- and then out of the blue getting stabbed by somebody that's kinda scary," said parent Maria Ramirez.
Others echoed her sentiment.
"My condolences go out to the family, but here's there's a bigger issue," said parent Jessica Alvarez.
Giovanny Montelongo was arrested yesterday and booked early Friday morning for murder.
He is being held by Long Beach police without bail because of an unrelated juvenile case.
He is scheduled to be arraigned in Long Beach Superior Court on Monday, March 16.
