Friends of the teen who stabbed two of his classmates yesterday – killing one – say he was regularly bullied and endured homophobic slurs on a daily basis. 

Abel Cedeno, 18, was charged with murder and weapon possession in the Wednesday morning stabbing at the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation in the Bronx. 15-year-old Matthew McCree was killed and 16-year-old Ariane LaBoy was critically wounded.

Cedeno reportedly purchased a knife on Amazon about three weeks ago and took it to school. The school, with over 500 students, does not have a metal detector.

Cedeno stabbed McCree and LaBoy after they threw pencils at him during their third period history class. After the attack, Cedeno calmly walked out of the classroom, gave the knife to a counselor who confronted him in the hallway, and walked into the assistant principal’s office where he waited for the police, reports 6abc.

Friends of Cendeno told news media that he had been subjected to ongoing bullying and name calling.

Meanwhile, McCree’s step-father, Kyle Victor, told the New York Post McCree was “very loving” and “in no way bad.”

The New York Times reported fellow students and authorities confirmed Cedeno was the subject of teasing, however the victims of the attack had not bothered him before the incident when they began tossing bits of paper and broken pencils at Cedeno.

Cedeno reportedly excused himself to go to the restroom and when he came back he had a switchblade and began stabbing and slashing the boys.

Witnesses said they stood back during the attack and then tried to tend to the victims’ wounds, according to The New York Times.

The Bronx school was open for classes on Thursday and grief counselors were on hand for students and staff. Students were scanned for weapons as they entered the school.

Police Commissioner James O’Neill told The New York Times, “After yesterday’s incident, of course we’re going to evaluate what goes on throughout the school system.”

[Feature Photo: Facebook]