Matthew McCree (pictured) was allegedly stabbed in the chest by 18-year-old classmate Abel Cedeno at the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in New York City on Wednesday
The stepfather of a teenage boy who was stabbed to death in high school after allegedly harassing his ‘flamboyant’ classmate has said his stepson was no bully.
Kyle Victor, 34, defended his 15-year-old son Matthew McCree after the horrifying classroom attack, saying he was ‘in no way bad’, and claims the media is making his son look homophobic.
‘Matthew was not like that at all and they’re making it look like Mathew did not like gay people,’ Victor told the New York Post.
The teen was allegedly stabbed in the chest by 18-year-old classmate Abel Cedeno at the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in New York City on Wednesday.
Ariane LaBoy, a friend of McCree’s, is now fighting for his life in hospital after he was also stabbed in the chest.
Cedeno told reporters and police that the pair relentlessly tormented him with homophobic slurs in class and was targeted him for his ‘flamboyant’ personality.
The two students were attacked allegedly by 18-year-old classmate Abel Cedeno (pictured after his arrest) on Wednesday morning
Cedeno, who has been charged with murder and attempted murder, was allegedly being tormented by McCree and LaBoy because of his flamboyant personality.
Pictured: What is believed to be the switchblade allegedly used by the suspect to stab McCree
McCree’s 16-year-old friend Ariane LaBoy is fighting for his life in hospital
But Victor said his stepson – who he raised from the age of seven – was actually ‘very loving’, according to the Post.
He added: ‘Every child has their little ways and you know a 15-year-old — emotions and hormones running around — but he was in no way bad.’
Victor also attacked the media for making McCree out to be villain in the story.
He explained: ‘They need to ask the right questions first before they paint someone and make them look like they’re some mean person.
McCree also attacked the school for not having metal detectors at its entrances.
The incident took place about 30 minutes into a history class in front of at least 15 other students.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Bob Boyce said the suspect had been fighting with the two victims since school started back two weeks ago.
‘There were arguments going on for two weeks into the school year. It escalated today after some back and forth within the classroom,’ Boyce said.
The suspect allegedly walked out of the room after the stabbing and surrendered the knife to a counselor.
The two students were allegedly stabbed by an 18-year-old classmate on Wednesday morning at the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in the Bronx
The incident took place about 30 minutes into a history class in front of at least 15 other students
Police said he then walked into the assistant principal’s office, sat down and waited while 911 was called.
There are two schools within the one building – the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation, which is a high school and middle school combined. It also has Public School 67, which is an elementary school.