USC student Ivan Gallegos arrested for fatal stabbing of homeless man Xavier Cerf, following an alleged car break-in attempt near Greek Row. Learn more about the incident and the individuals involved.
United States, Bollywood Fever: The homeless man who was allegedly stabbed to death by a University of Southern California (USC) fraternity member has been identified as 27-year-old Xavier Cerf. Cerf, who was said to be homeless, was named by the Los Angeles County medical examiner.
Cerf’s sister paid tribute to him on Facebook, expressing anger that he had not been named by the media earlier. She emphasized that Cerf was more than just a homeless man, noting his love for drawing, singing, and dancing.
The incident led to the arrest of 19-year-old Ivan Gallegos on Monday night. Gallegos, a USC student, is being held on $2 million bail in connection with the fatal stabbing that occurred near Greek Row.
According to The Daily Trojan, USC’s student publication, officers responded to the stabbing, which was reported around 8:15 PM. The Los Angeles Police Department stated that Cerf was attempting to break into a car near the Lambda Chi Alpha and Delta Tau Delta fraternity houses. Cerf allegedly claimed to have a gun, prompting Gallegos to confront and stab him multiple times.
Police found Cerf in an alley suffering from stab wounds, and he was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Gallegos, a sophomore studying business administration at USC, describes himself on LinkedIn as an “aspiring regional music artist and producer” under the artist name IDG. Recently profiled by USC Annenberg Media, Gallegos was named “LA’s upcoming Corrido and Reggaeton artist.”
Raised in a rough part of East LA, Gallegos’s parents were said to have been involved in gangs. Despite his challenging upbringing, he focused on music, honing his skills to become a multifaceted musician and vocalist. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 2022 and is a first-generation Latino.
Gallegos performed with the Mariachi band Los Troyanos and also produces reggaeton and electronic dance music. Speaking to MailOnline, his mother, Violet, said, “We are doing ok, but we are hanging in there. He is a very good kid, but that’s all we can release right now.”
This tragic incident highlights the complexities of the individuals involved, shedding light on their backgrounds and the unfortunate circumstances that led to this fatal encounter.
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