Tragic incident forcing nation to discuss true dangers of homeless crisis
A 19-year-old University of Southern California student named Ivan Gallegos was arrested in Los Angeles this week after he allegedly stabbed and killed a homeless man.
JUST IN: 19-year-old USC student arrested after he stabbed a homeless man who threatened him and broke into his car.
Ivan Gallegos confronted the man who was breaking into his car at the rear parking lot of the fraternity houses at University of Southern California.
The man… pic.twitter.com/ELEy7H4Tet
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 19, 2024
According to Gallegos, the man was breaking into his vehicle and threatened him with a gun leading up to the Monday night stabbing.
No gun was found on the dead man’s body, but bystanders confirmed he told Gallegos he had one.
LAPD Interim Chief Dominic Choi told the Police Commission Tuesday that officers arrived to find Gallegos and two other people standing near the 27-year-old homeless man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers took Gallegos into custody right away and released the two men accompanying him after questioning.
Eyewitness News reports Gallegos is a member of the USC fraternity Delta Tau Delta and is attending the Marshall School of Business.
A USC college student is under arrest for murder after confronting a homeless man breaking into his car turned deadly.
19 year old, Ivan Gallegos is currently being held on $2 million bail for attempting to protect himself and his property. pic.twitter.com/bz6nnijXaG
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) June 19, 2024
USC’s Annenberg Media published a profile about Gallegos just last month, explaining he had a rough childhood and “navigated the realities of both his parents’ involvement in gang activities, leading to their intermittent incarceration.”
“Despite growing up in an environment saturated with drugs, gangs and prostitution, he focused on music and sharpened his skills to become a multifaceted instrument and vocalist,” the outlet wrote.
The rowdy Los Angeles upbringing influenced Gallegos to work with a local non-profit that aims to reduce gang involvement with youths in the area.
Let’s see here… I wonder who we should be defending:
The homeless man breaking into cars?
Or the first-generation USC student who volunteers to reduce gang involvement for young people in LA? pic.twitter.com/lf2fguQ7s9
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) June 19, 2024
Gallegos’ bail has been set at $2 million, and the district attorney has not brought charges against him yet.
Many people online are suggesting the student is being unfairly punished for defending himself:
A homeless man broke into a USC student’s car, and the student caught him in the act. A scuffle ensued and the student, Ivan Gallegos, fatally stabbed the thief.
Now Gallegos has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He was a community volunteer who escaped poverty to attend USC…
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 18, 2024
The family of @USC student Ivan Gallegos says the sophomore studying business acted in self defense when he allegedly stabbed a homeless man breaking into cars on Greek Row, accusing the university of a “lack of safety measures around his campus.”https://t.co/aXxSSun5ig
— Jacob Wheeler (@JWheelertv) June 19, 2024
Wait, so now you can’t even defend yourself?! Oh nevermind, I just saw you mentioned it was in Los Angeles. Makes total sense why. That’s a commie state where you will own nothing, not defend yourself and be happy.
— Liberacrat Media™️ (@Liberacrat) June 19, 2024
Let me summarize: a criminal broke into the student’s car and threatened him with a gun, and the victim protected himself. But somehow the victim still gets arrested. Democrat logic.
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) June 19, 2024
This is totally wrong. Ivan had the right to defend himself and his property. Surely this will be overturned.
Oh wait. It’s California where the bad guys are protected. Sorry.
— Juanita Broaddrick (@atensnut) June 19, 2024
X owner Elon Musk even brought attention to the situation.
!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 19, 2024
