Abel Cedeno found guilty in school stabbing case

Abel Cedeno has been found guilty in the school stabbings that killed one classmate and wounded another.

News 12 Staff

Jul 15, 2019, 7:46 PM

Updated 1,987 days ago

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Abel Cedeno has been found guilty in the school stabbings that killed one classmate and wounded another.
Cedeno, 19, was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter, first-degree assault and weapon possession.
The teenager and his family left the courtroom without speaking to any reporters.
Cedeno fatally stabbed Matthew McCree in 2017 inside a classroom at the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation. He also stabbed Ariane Laboy, who survived.
The defense had argued that Cedeno was acting in self-defense when he stabbed McCree and Laboy, claiming he was the target of bullies due to his sexual preference.
McCree's mother, Louna Dennis, held a news conference right after the verdict was handed out.
"I'm grateful, I'm just so happy that I've got justice for my son," Dennis said.
Both victims' families say they will be pursuing more justice in civil court. They believe the Department of Education failed to protect students at the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation by not having metal detectors in the school.
Cedeno faces up to 50 years in prison. He will be sentenced on Sept. 10.