14-year-old Bronx school stabbing suspect confessed, police say

BRONX, N.Y. (WABC) -- A 14-year-old middle school student is being held without bail after police say he confessed to killing his another teen outside IS 117 in the Mount Hope section of the Bronx.

Noel Estevez is charged as an adult with second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of 14-year-old Timothy Crump.

Defense attorney Eric Poulson paints his client as a tormented kid who feared for his life.

Estevez was arraigned 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 said.

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," 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."

A tearful vigil was held Thursday night for Crump, whose friends do not believe was the aggressor.

Mayor Bill de Blasio released a statement calling the stabbing "a painful moment for all of us."

Estevez is due back in court on June 24.