Teen exchange student arrested in school fight death of 19-year-old

Los Angeles police have arrested a 17-year-old exchange student in connection with a school fight in Sylmar that left a 19-year-old dead.

The South Korean exchange student, who was not identified because of his age, was arrested on suspicion of assault after Jin Su Lee died of head injuries. The two exchanged blows at First Lutheran High School in Sylmar.

A law enforcement source, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing, said initial indications show Lee started the fight, and the exchange student responded with a few blows.

The 17-year-old boy was taken to juvenile hall, but charges were unlikely to be filed, he said.

Los Angeles County prosecutors said they will not make a formal decision on whether to file charges until they get a completed coroner’s report on the cause of Lee’s death.