Authorities have released new video allegedly showing the moments before a ‘bullied’ gay teen stabbed to death his 15-year-old classmate at a school in the Bronx.
The attorney for Abel Cedeno, who is accused of fatally stabbing his classmate, Matthew McCree, 15, and seriously wounding, Ariane Laboy, 16, in the Bronx, released the video last week.
In the grainy cellphone video recorded by another student, Cedeno’s attorney, Robert Feldman, says that Cedeno is wearing a pink shirt and McCree is wearing a white shirt.
Feldman believes the video will prove his client acted in self-defense.
Authorities have released new video (pictured) showing the moments before a ‘bullied’ teen allegedly stabbed to death his 15-year-old classmate at a school in the Bronx
The attorney for Abel Cedeno, who is accused of fatally stabbing his classmate, Matthew McCree, 15, and seriously wounding, Ariane Laboy, 16, in the Bronx, released the video last week
In the grainy cellphone video recorded by another student, Cedeno’s attorney, Robert Feldman, says that Cedeno is wearing a pink shirt and McCree is wearing a white shirt
‘You will see clearly. Crystal clear. Beyond any doubt that our client, Abel Cedeno who is wearing a pink shirt is being accosted, assaulted and beset by Mr McCree whose wearing a white shirt,’ Feldman told PIX 11.
The nine-second video shows a group of students screaming as the attack breaks out in a history class at Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in the Bronx.
An adult, believed to be the teacher, is seen attempting to break up the altercation along with a few students.
Feldman said the video shows Cedeno trying to fight off at least two other students before the attack.
‘If my client did not do this he would have been severely, severely beat up again or maybe even killed,’ Feldman told the station.
Feldman was referring to Cedeno’s claims that he was persistently bullied at the school ahead of the September 2017 incident.
However, the video doesn’t show how the incident ended, with McCree being allegedly stabbed by Cedeno.
Sanford Rubenstein, who is representing the estate of McCree, told PIX11: ‘A grand jury indicted Abel Cedeno for manslaughter based on evidence which most likely included this video in its entirety.’
McCree (left) died from the stab wounds, but Ariane Laboy (right) pulled through after being in a coma for more than one day
Cedeno said he stabbed his two classmates when he snapped after years of being bullied for being gay. He also said after his arrest that on the day before the attack he attempted to commit suicide
Cedeno also said that the years of bullying lead him to attempt to commit suicide the day before the attack. Pictured is the knife used in the attack
‘No conclusions can be drawn showing a part of it out of context,’ Rubenstein added.
In December, Cedeno spoke out about the attacks and said they came after years of bullying about his sexuality and a suicide attempt the day before.
Cedeno told ABC New York at the time that he initially tried to walk away on September 27, 2017, when his classmates wouldn’t stop bullying him.
‘I was near the entrance to the classroom,’ he told the outlet. ‘And they continued to throw stuff. The class was very rowdy and loudness and everything.
‘I just snapped. I started screaming and screaming.’
The 18-year-old was released on a bail of $250,000 in November and was charged with manslaughter.
McCree died from the stab wounds, but Laboy pulled through after being in a coma for more than one day. Cedeno pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Cedeno told ABC that he’s been bullied since middle school when he first started struggling with being gay.
He said classmates called him ‘derogatory’ words and mocked his flamboyant nature – saying he must be gay because he was ‘growing out his hair and has a high-pitched voice’.
Cedeno also said that the years of bullying lead him to attempt to commit suicide the day before the attack.
‘I tried to overdose on some pills, but the next day I woke up,’ he explained.
‘I didn’t want to be surrounded by those kids. Whenever I went to school, I felt trapped. Like i was put in a cage with a whole bunch of animals.’
His family also said at the time that they plan to sue the New York City public school system, saying more could have been done to prevent the alleged bullying and incident.
Cedeno explained that his mother complained to the administration earlier in the year and even attempted to have him transferred to a different school, but said nobody would listen to her.
Cedeno told ABC that he’s been bullied since middle school when he first started struggling with being gay. He said classmates called him ‘derogatory’ words and mocked him
Cedeno allegedly attacked the classmates during the school day at Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation (pictured) in the Bronx
After Cedeno (right) first spoke out about being bullied in September, McCree’s (left) mother countered that excuse – saying that her son would never bully anyone
This isn’t the first time that Cedeno has blamed years of bullying for the fatal attack.
Cedeno gave a press conference at Rikers Island on September 29, where was being held after being arrested for stabbing McCree, to explain he’d been pushed to breaking point by his tormentors at school.
The teen explained that he’s been bullied since sixth grade because he is gay, and that ‘didn’t mean to kill him’.
‘They bully me because I’m different. I’m not like other boys,’ Cedano said, according to the New York Post. ‘I guess I just snapped, I didn’t mean to kill him.’
A spokesperson for the New York City Department of Education told ABC: ‘Nothing is more important than the safety of students and staff, and the tragedy is being investigated.’
Laboy’s family also hired a high-power New York City attorney after their son came out of a coma two days after the attack.
The teen was rushed to a hospital after the attack and finally woke up from a coma Friday September 29, while Cedeno was treated and arrested. McCree was confirmed dead the same day he was attacked.
‘My client and his family are completely devastated by this tragedy that could have and should have been prevented,’ lawyer Matthew Blit told the New York Post in December.
‘Ariane LaBoy and the other children in that classroom are extremely lucky to be alive today,’ he said.
After Cedeno first spoke out about being bullied in September, McCree’s mother Louna Dennis countered that excuse – saying that her son would never bully anyone.
McCree’s mother Louna Dennis (center) said in September 2017 that her ‘son was not a bully’
Cedeno (pictured during his arrest) is currently being homeschooled and his next court appearance is March 6
‘My son was not a bully. My son was loved,’ she said during a press conference at the time.
She remembered him as a 15-year-old who loved school and had plans to attend Fordham University for basketball.
The heartbroken mother also said her son would ‘beat a bully down,’ before being one himself, according to Pix 11.
McCree’s stepfather also spoke to defend the 15-year-old, saying he was ‘in no way bad’.
Kyle Victor, 34, said the media is making his son look homophobic.
‘Matthew was not like that at all and they’re making it look like Matthew did not like gay people,’ Victor told the New York Post.
Cedeno is currently being homeschooled and his next court appearance is March 6.