BRONX, N.Y. (WABC) -- The 14-year-old boy accused of stabbing a classmate to death outside his school in the Bronx is due back in court Tuesday.
Noel Estevez was arrested last week after police say he stabbed 14-year-old Timothy Crump outside of IS 117 in the Mount Hope section.
Estevez's attorney says the stabbing was in self-defense after the victim spent months bullying his client.
Investigators are looking into communication between Child Protective Services and the Department of Education regarding the reports of bullying.
Estevez is charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter. He was arraigned last Thursday, and prosecutors read part of his confession in court.
"The kid kept hitting me with his fists, so I pulled a knife and stabbed him four or five times," he reportedly told officers.
Officials say Crump was actually kicked out of school on December 16 for punching another student, but was often seen hanging near the building.
Estevez had just returned to school after being hospitalized following a suicide attempt. His father asked for a safety transfer, but was denied because it was so late in the school year.
"Here's a child being threatened," attorney Eric Poulson said. "People coming to his door, continually, saying we're going to kill you. You're dead. They were after him for three months. They couldn't find him because he stayed behind closed doors. He came out of closed doors, and they sicced on him."