One teenager has died and another has been seriously injured after they were stabbed with a knife in the middle of a history class at a New York high school.
The two students were attacked allegedly by 18-year-old classmate Abel Cedeno on Wednesday morning at the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in the Bronx.
Matthew McCree, the 15-year-old boy who died, had been stabbed in the chest. He had been rushed to hospital after the attack but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Abel Cedeno, 18, (left) was taken into custody after allegedly fatally stabbing Matthew McCree, 15, (right) at the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in the Bronx on Wednesday
His classmate, 16-year-old Ariane LaBoy, is fighting for his life in hospital after suffering stab wounds to his chest.
The suspect, who was allegedly armed with a three-inch blade knife, was taken into custody and is being questioned by police.
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 two students were attacked allegedly by an 18-year-old classmate on Wednesday morning at the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in the Bronx
The suspect, who was armed with a three-inch blade knife, was taken into custody and is being questioned by police. Students were promptly evacuated from the school
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 and been fighting with the two victims since school started back two weeks ago
One of the suspect’s friend told the New York Post he was being bullied for his ‘flamboyant’ personality.
‘I heard he was being harassed,’ she said. ‘He’s not aggressive. Everybody loves Abel. He’s not a bad kid.’
The suspect allegedly walked out of the room after the stabbing and surrendered the knife to a counselor. 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.
The school, which does not have metal detectors, dismissed classes early but planned to reopen Thursday.
Police blocked off the area surrounding the school on Wednesday as students were evacuated