After a man was stabbed and killed outside a Santa Ana fast-food restaurant, his mother spoke exclusively with NBC Los Angeles Thursday, grappling with grief and questions.
Alicia Abrego walked through the area where her son, Christopher, was stabbed and killed last Saturday. Police had said the 43-year-old was killed after getting into a verbal exchange with another man, who was later identified as 35-year-old Diego Sartori, outside the Pollo Campero on Bristol Street.
The grieving mom said she wanted to see the crime scene herself, hoping someone may remember seeing her son or know what led to his death.
“How can somebody hurt him like that?” the mom asked.
Police said Christopher did not know the accused killer. Sartori was with a woman at the time of the altercation, but she was not involved, Santa Ana police added.
“I don’t understand why that happened to him. The only thing I can think of is that his mental illness affected what happened. I imagined he was without medication,” Abrego said.
The mother said her son lived for years with schizophrenia and other mental health challenges, which often strained their relationship.
When they last spoke in September, she said, he had moved back to the LA area from Bakersfield.
Christopher, who grew up in Claremont and later settled in Bakersfield as a young adult, was a “nice and gentle person” who liked music.
“I think that this person should pay for what he did because nothing can bring my son back. I’m living without my son,” Abrego said.
Sartori has a long rap sheet with most of the charges being drug-related, police said.
Pollo Campero released a statement, expressing its condolences to the Abrego family.
Allison Craig is a passionate sports writer and analyst with a deep love for game strategies, player performances, and the latest trends in the sports world. With years of experience covering football, basketball, tennis, and more, she delivers insightful analysis and engaging content for sports enthusiasts.
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