H.S. Strength Coach Fatally Stabbed Outside Restaurant

Sheriff’s officials say they are making progress in their investigation of a fatal stabbing outside a Lake Forest restaurant, with one person in custody Tuesday night, authorities said.

Several days after an argument and a brawl at Albatross Mexican Food restaurant resulted in the death of Elvis Kechechian, Sheriff’s Department spokesman Jim Amormino said authorities have one person in custody, although he declined to release any other information.

“We’re making progress,” said Lt. Chris Cormier of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Nearly 200 people attended a small prayer service Monday afternoon for Kechechian at Santa Margarita High School. The 26-year-old Mission Viejo man worked as the strength and conditioning coach for the school’s hockey team. He was remembered as an upbeat muscle-toned coach known for buying shirts one size too small and stepping up when members of the team needed his help.

“He helped everyone, especially me with my hockey career,” said Joona Kunnas, a varsity player for the team. “He pushed me to do better.”

According to authorities, Kechechian and a friend were stabbed several times after an argument and fight inside the Albatross Mexican Food restaurant in Lake Forest spilled into the parking lot. About two dozen people were at the restaurant when the brawl took place about 2 a.m. Saturday.

Officials have declined to say what argument ignited the physical fight outside the restaurant.

“There are a couple of leads we’re following up on at this moment,” Cormier said.

Officials were searching for two men believed to have been involved in the brawl. One is described as being 28 to 30 years old, 190 to 200 pounds with a shaved head or short, spiky brown or black hair. He is believed to be Latino or Filipino and was seen wearing a dark shirt and cargo shorts with socks up to his knees.

The second suspect was described as 28 to 30 years old, about 5-foot-8 with sandy blond or light-brown short hair. He was possibly white and was wearing a white T-shirt.

Meanwhile, players of the Santa Margarita Catholic High School ice hockey team have been coming to terms with Kechechian’s death.

Students who attended his prayer service Monday shared their personal memories of “Coach Elvis,” from his habit of buying shirts a size too small to the catchy phrases he would shout to players in the weight room.

Kechechian was known for stepping up for other players, giving many of them his personal cell-phone number so they could contact him if they needed help or a friend to talk to.

Four men and three women were said to be involved in the fight outside the restaurant Saturday morning.

Authorities said they are also looking to speak with the three women who were at the restaurant when the fight took place, two of whose images were captured in cell-phone video.

One woman was described as 25 years old, Latina or white, about 5-foot-6 and 125 to 130 pounds. She had long, highlighted, black and brown hair and was wearing dark clothing.

The second woman was described as in her 40s, blond and wearing a royal blue dress.

Another woman was described as 25 or 26 years old with straight, dark hair and dark clothing.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact authorities at 866-TIP-OCSD or 866-847-6273.