Mother Advocates for Justice Following USC Stabbing Incident
The mother of a man fatally stabbed near the University of Southern California (USC) and near the university’s Greek Row demands justice. She is urging the District Attorney (DA) to revisit the decision of not pressing charges tied to the case.
Conflict and Fatality in a Southern California
Xavier Jerrod Cerf was fatally injured on a Monday night when allegedly targeted by multiple students under the suspicion of stealing a car behind a Greek fraternity house. The investigative team reported that Cerf had informed the man confronting him that he was armed with a gun, creating a scenario of perceived threat. This precipitated a defensive response from one USC student, Ivan Gallegos, who reportedly countered and fatally stabbed Cerf in the chest area. DA George Gascón indicated that the investigation showed Gallegos fearing for his life while trying to protect himself and other students. Investigators later discovered that Cerf was not harboring a gun.
A Mother’s Fight for Justice
The mother, Yema Jones, currently residing in Houston roughly 1,500 miles away from where this tragic event transpired, stated her focus remains on repatriating her son’s body back to Texas, his childhood home.
“I haven’t had time to grieve because my mind is going on what I need to do to get my son here,” Jones spoke. “Away from the people who hurt him.”
Addressing her deceased son’s personal life, she noted that he was a father to a three-year-old boy. The family currently adorns violet bracelets etched with the letters LLX, symbolizing ‘Long Live Xavier’. While police have categorized Cerf as being homeless at the time of this incident, Jones refutes these claims.
“I want them to say his name. His name is Xavier Jerrod Cerf. He wasn’t a homeless man. He had a home.”
Jones is appealing for the case to be re-examined, contesting the conclusion of self-defense and emphasizing that it was the students who first engaged with Cerf.
“What were you defending? …. If somebody is coming after you, then you defend yourself from that person harming you. Not you coming to that person and harming them.”
Background and Next Steps
The late 27-year-old had, according to Jones, recently been discharged from a mental health facility.
“I’m going to fight for justice for what’s mine,” she determinedly claimed. “So he can properly rest. Because he didn’t deserve that.”
The story of Xavier Jerrod Cerf ultimately presents a complex narrative that underscores the interweaving challenges of mental health, homelessness, and societal justice. As his mother battles for the reconsideration of the judicial findings, a broader dialogue on these topical issues also continues to unfold in parallel.
The incident, the death, and the aftermath are a grim reminder highlighting the urgent need for discussions and actions around understanding, empathy, and equity in society.
