Teen says she tried to protect boyfriend in deadly Milpitas stabbing

MILPITAS, Calif. - Family and friends of 17-year-old Jarred Cavan gathered for a vigil on Wednesday, after the teen was fatally stabbed in a fight just one block from Milpitas High School. 

Jarred's 17-year-old girlfriend, Raya, is speaking out for the first time since the deadly fight. 

The fight started Tuesday afternoon, not long after school let out. Witnesses tell KTVU there were at least 10 teens involved, but Raya says she and Jarred were in it alone. 
 
"They outnumbered us, and there was too many of them," Raya said. "They kept hitting me and throwing me to the side. They threw us against each other on the floor."

Raya says she and Jarred did what they could to fend the others off. Raya was stabbed in her hand while trying to keep him safe. Her injury was wrapped in gauze on Wednesday. 

"I still got back up though…fighting for my boyfriend, doing everything I can to protect him," Raya said. "I tried so hard to keep him alive, but the guy that stabbed him started coming for me."

A teacher driving by spotted the fight and tried to break it up but was overwhelmed by the brawl. 

What we know:

The Milpitas Police Department says officers arrived around 3:50 p.m. and found Jarred on the ground with stab wounds. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. 

The suspect in the stabbing was another 17-year-old. He stayed at the scene, and he was later booked into juvenile hall on charges of homicide and assault with a deadly weapon. 

The Milpitas Unified School District will be offering resources for students impacted by the violence and offered a statement of sympathy on Wednesday.  

The vigil held for Jarred took place on the very street where he died. Friends and family wrapping their arms around each other as they come to terms with a life that has ended far too soon.  

What they're saying:

Jarred's great uncle, Alberto Bailli, says people have been encouraging him to be forgiving, but it's an impossible ask. 

"Of course we can forgive, that’s what God wants….I’m just gonna tell the truth, but right now I cannot forgive because it hurts my heart," said Bailli. "They don't know the memories that I had with him. When you have so many memories with a person, and something bad happens, and they're gone too soon, it's really hard to accept."
 
Loved ones wrote messages to Jarred on balloons before sending them skyward. One read, "Long live Jarred."

At this time, the motive in the fight that led to this killing has not been shared by police. As the investigation continues, police are still asking for witnesses of the fight to come forward.