Family and friends gathered in East Tremont Friday to remember the life of a high school student who was fatally stabbed last year. 

Thursday, Sept. 27 marked the first anniversary of the death of 15-year-old Matthew McCree. Candles were laid down in the shape of the letter 'm.'

The teen was fatally stabbed during his history class at the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation. The school has since closed down.

Abel Cedeno, a classmate of McCree's, was charged in the death and claimed he was bullied for his sexuality. Prosecutors say Cedeno also stabbed another classmate that day.

McCree's mother said that her son had dreams of playing professional basketball. If that didn't work out, she says he was going to join the Marines.

She also filed a lawsuit against the city after the school failed to install metal detectors, despite the principal's recommendation.

"We still have kids, I go back there on a daily basis since the day," says Louna Dennis, McCree's mother. "He even has a friend that got a big tattoo of Matthew on his side – when he sent me the picture I cried to know how much his friends loved him."

The victim's family says they are also awaiting a criminal lawsuit against Cedeno, who is currently free on bail awaiting trial.

The civil case has been put in hold under the criminal trial proceeds.