High school turns into Fort Knox after deadly stabbing
A Bronx high school where a student knifed a classmate to death and critically injured another turned into a veritable Fort Knox on Thursday — as four metal detectors were set up amid a heavy police presence.
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Two body scanners and two conveyor belt X-ray machines were hauled into the Urban Assembly School for Wildlife Conservation on Mohegan Avenue in East Tremont about 6:40 a.m.
Retractable-belt barriers marked “NYPD School Safety” also were erected where students will be lining up one by one to be screened.
The older students will enter the school from its East 179th Street entrance, while the younger ones will use the Mohegan Avenue entrance.
Along with the screening hardware, a sign was set up reading: “All students and visitors and their belongings subject to search prior to entry into the school facility.”
At least 10 cops patrolled outside the school and several police vans were parked nearby.
Outraged parents said the beefed-up security should’ve been added prior to Wednesday’s deadly incident, when cops said Abel Cedeno, 18, allegedly plunged a switchblade into Matthew McCree, 15, and Ariane LaBoy, 16, on the fifth floor.
“I’m pissed!” said mom Trina Nimmons, whose daughter, Summer Hall, 4, goes to the school. “They should have had metal detectors in the school before! They shouldn’t have waited for someone to die!”
Third-grader Omahira Gonzalez said she’s terrified to go to class — but her mom, Juanada Gonzalez, was relieved security was put in.
“I’m scared. I don’t want to go to school here anymore. My mom is making me go,” the 9-year-old said. “Sometimes the big kids don’t respect us. Sometimes they protect us, but sometimes no. I’m kind of nervous. We are mixed in with the big kids in places.”
McCree was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Barnabas Hospital, and LaBoy was listed in critical but stable condition, officials said.
Cedeno told cops that an ongoing beef with his victims made him snap, Police Chief Robert Boyce said Wednesday.
“I’m sad. I knew Matthew real well,” said 11th-grader Ashanie Walsh. “He was very funny. Always smiling, always laughing and playing with everyone. If I needed something, he was the one to go get it from the store. Just nice.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who visited the school Thursday, pledged the day before to tighten security at the facility, which did not have scanners.