BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — New court documents show that Jason Cruz, 23, admitted to stabbing 17-year-old Jose Flores and told deputies he knew what he did was wrong.
Cruz is charged with first-degree murder in the deadly stabbing that took place near Foothill High School on Jan. 21.
His arraignment, scheduled for Thursday, was postponed until next week but the judge did set bail at $1 million.
Cruz recounts that fatal day during an interview at Kern Medical while recovering from stab injuries.
The report states, someone that Cruz knew was jumped the week before the stabbing and Cruz was going to meet the student after receiving a text.
Cruz said he walked to the bus stop before school got out because someone was bullying and threatening to jump the student.
The student then pointed out to Cruz which kids were going to beat him up.
Cruz then walked over to confront the group and a fight began, according to the documents.
Cruz says Flores attacked first and punched him in the face.
Several witnesses in the report say they saw Cruz's arm moving in a stabbing motion while fighting with Flores.
Detectives then asked Cruz what was the need to confront the group of people. Cruz responded and said, " it's bullying, like, it doesn't stop."
Cruz said he brought three throwing-knives with him and a folding knife, "just in case they try to do anything crazy," the documents said.
Cruz said that he was losing the fight and then started the stabbing.
He said "he knows what he did was wrong" and that he probably should have walked away from it, according to the documents.
According to the court documents, Flores was stabbed six times.
When asked if he wanted to say anything to the family, Cruz said "I'm sorry for what I did. I know it wasn't right. Um, I take full responsibility and um, I'm sorry," the documents said.
Cruz said that he brought the knives to initially scare them and that he usually doesn't carry knives for protection but just a pocket knife.
The documents state one of the many witnesses tried to help Flores when he was laying on the ground and was seen holding his head.
Detectives asked the witness if Flores said anything before he died and they said he didn't, but he was crying.
Cruz is due back in court Thursday.
