bronx teen who stabbed classmate was the target of homophobic bullying

A high school student in the Bronx who fatally stabbed a classmate says that he was the victim of relentless homophobic harassment and abuse in the events that led to the stabbing. The student, Abel Cedeno, 18, had previously reported the bullying to school officials without a response from the school, friend Savannah Hornbeck says.

“The kids were calling him a f—-t, calling him a s–c,” said Hornbeck, 34. “After it had been reported numerous times and there was no reaction from the school, Abel felt (there was) no other way out.”

Cedeno, who is being held without bail for the murder of 15-year-old Matthew McCree and another, non-fatal, stabbing of a second student, where he is under suicide watch.

The Legal Aid Society issued a statement after one of its attorneys, Deborah Rush, represented the suspect.

“We are currently meeting with our client and his family and reviewing the facts and circumstances of this case, including the long history of bullying and intimidation Abel has endured,” Legal Aid Society attorney Deborah Rush, who is representing Cedeno, said in a statement.