Donation Funds Set Up for High School Stabbing Victim [Update]

[Updated | Oct. 5, 5:25 p.m.: Two separate funds have been set up to aid funeral costs for the family of Cindy Santana, the student at South East High School, who died last week after being stabbed.

Family friends and the South Gate Police Officers' Assn. established two memorial funds with the family's authorization. A Facebook page was set up in memory of Santana.]

[Updated | Oct. 4, 12:30 p.m.: Abraham Lopez, the student accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend at South East High School last week made his first court appearance Tuesday, but his arraignment has been postponed until Oct. 25. 

Lopez, 18, has been charged with one count each of murder and false imprisonment by violence, two counts of bringing or possessing weapons on school grounds, and three counts each of assault with a deadly weapon and assault of a peace officer.

Abraham Lopez, 18. (Los Angeles Sheriff's Dept.)

Prosecutors are expected to ask that Lopez's bail be set at $1.28 million. If convicted, he could face life in prison with the possibility of parole, according to the District Attorney's Office.]

School was in session at a South Gate high school Monday for the first time after a 17-year-old student was stabbed to death on campus.

School and district officials held a meeting for parents, while students brought flowers to remember their former classmate.

South East High School student Lopez, 18, allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend, Cindi Santana, 17, to death during lunch on campus Friday.

According to witnesses, Lopez punched Santana in the face, went on to choke her, and then stabbed her several times. Lopez also allegedly injured a varsity football player and a female dean when a group attempted to subdue him.

"It was really sad to see what happened. I was standing in front of it," student Michelle Gomez told ABC7. "It was really intense."

Santana later died during surgery at St. Francis Medical Center. Lopez was taken to the hospital to be checked out before police arrested him and charged him with Santana's murder.

The stabbing came just days after Lopez was arrested for threatining Santana on Sept. 25. He sent her text messages saying he was going to get people to beat up her sister's husband. The District Arroney let Lopez go Tuesday after not finding sufficient evidence to convict him.

School officials were on the lookout for Lopez, but he did not attend class last week. He did not go to class Friday, but showed up during lunchtime when the stabbing occurred, according to Superintendent John Deasy.

Crisis counselors will be available at South East High School to help students deal with Santana's death.