Video shows moments before teen’s fatal stabbing

Los Angeles police released video Tuesday of the moments leading up to a fatal stabbing of a student near Woodrow Wilson High School last week and asked for the public’s help in identifying the killer.

The incident was reported around 3:55 p.m. Friday in the 4500 block of Valley Boulevard in El Sereno, about half a mile from the Woodrow Wilson campus.

The video shows the suspect walking through a parking lot toward a sidewalk. As he exits the parking lot, he pulls out a large knife and holds it in both hands, looking at a spot just out of frame, at which point the video ends.

The man stabbed a 17year-old boy, who died at the scene, police officials said.

The boy was identified on the Los Angeles County coroner’s website as Xavier Chavarin. He was described by his mother, as well as an L.A. city councilman, as a straight-A student, a loving son and a “great big brother.”

Police believe the attacker went on to stab a 33year-old man later that night in the 5400 block of Valley Boulevard.

The man approached that victim and stabbed him multiple times without saying anything, police officials said in a news release. The victim survived the attack.

Police described the suspect as a Hispanic male, with long, wavy black hair and a long beard. He can be seen in the video wearing a black jacket, a black T-shirt and black pants. His vehicle was described as a black Honda CR-V made between 1996 and 2001.

Laura Frias, Xavier’s mother, told KNBC-TV that her son had been waiting for her outside a restaurant when he was stabbed, the station reported.

He was a straight-A student who was set to graduate in a few months, KNBC said.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council adjourned in Xavier’s memory.

Councilmember Kevin de León, whose district includes El Sereno, said the teen had a promising future and was a “great big brother” and a great son.

“He loved playing Legos. He loved playing with his Xbox. He loved fast cars and he loved drawing,” De León said.

De León told his colleagues that the Woodrow Wilson High School community was devastated.

Xavier’s mother graduated from the school and was pregnant with Xavier when she received her diploma, De León said.

“I am saddened to report the recent death of one of our students off campus,” Woodrow Wilson Principal Gregorio Verbera said in a message Sunday to students and parents.

“On behalf of our entire school community, I want to offer my deepest condolences to those who are impacted by this loss, including the student’s family, friends and teachers.”

Anyone with information about the suspect is advised to call LAPD homicide detectives at (213) 996-4116.