A 19-year-old University of Southern California (USC) student was in jail Tuesday after police accused him of murdering a man suspected of breaking into cars near campus, authorities said.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene after they responded alongside officers to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon near campus shortly after 8 p.m. Monday, according to a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) statement.

Police identified the suspect as Ivan Gallegos, 19, of Los Angeles. USC spokesperson Lauren Bartlett confirmed that Gallegos is enrolled as a junior studying business administration.

The location of the incident, the 700 block of West 28th Street, is a few blocks north of the University Park campus and the center of Greek Row, a densely populated area with student housing and fraternity and sorority houses.

"The male victim was breaking into vehicles at the location when the suspect confronted and stabbed the victim," the LAPD said.

A spokesperson for the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s office stated that the victim’s identity was still being determined and would be released once the family had been notified of his death.

Gallegos was booked into jail at the LAPD's 77th Street Division early on Tuesday, according to inmate records. Although accused by police of murder, he had not yet been formally charged. Gallegos was being held on $2 million bail, according to the records.

It was not clear Tuesday afternoon whether the student had retained legal counsel. The area public defender's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Police said Gallegos remained at the scene after the confrontation. Jail records indicate he was arrested about a half-hour after officers arrived.

USC serves as a gateway to South Los Angeles, the vast portion of the city south of the 10 Freeway that is historically significant for its West Coast jazz roots and has evolved from a predominantly Black American community to a Latino majority, influenced by immigration in the 1980s and 1990s.

The university has taken a stern stance on crime and, through legislation, deploys its own sworn, on-duty police officers to patrol the community just north of the L.A. Coliseum. The university's Department of Public Safety works closely with the LAPD to address safety concerns and maintain security in the surrounding areas.

The Los Angeles Police Department's South Bureau Homicide Division is investigating Monday night's incident. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the fatal confrontation.

The incident has sparked discussions on campus about safety and the extent of self-defense. Students and faculty expressed mixed emotions, with some emphasizing the importance of personal safety and others cautioning against taking the law into one’s own hands.

USC has been proactive in addressing crime and safety, implementing various measures such as increased lighting, security cameras, and safety escorts for students. The university regularly communicates safety tips and updates to students and staff, reinforcing the importance of vigilance and reporting suspicious activities.

As the investigation continues, the community awaits further details about the circumstances surrounding the incident and the legal proceedings that will follow. The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the complex interplay between crime, safety, and justice in an urban university setting.

This tragic incident underscores the challenges faced by urban universities in balancing the safety of their students with the need for a secure and welcoming community environment. It also raises critical questions about the responsibilities and limits of self-defense, especially in densely populated areas where the potential for misunderstandings and escalations is high.

In the aftermath, USC is likely to review its policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future, ensuring that all members of the campus community feel safe and supported. The university's response and the ongoing legal developments will be closely watched as a barometer for how such issues are handled in higher education institutions nationwide.