On Wednesday, the Kansas City, Missouri police department identified the 14-year-old student that died in a stabbing incident at Northeast Middle School early Tuesday. KCPD has also confirmed that the suspect, another student at the school, has been charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and the unlawful use of a weapon in Jackson County Juvenile Court.The victim has been identified as Manuel J. Guzman, born Nov. 27, 2007. Police have not yet identified the suspect. Because the suspect was charged in juvenile court, it is possible the believed identity of the other student may not be made public. Any possible motives or other reasons behind the incident are still under investigation by police. The tragic death was the fourth homicide in Kansas City within the span of a deadly 24-stretch for the city. A GoFundMe has been set up by the Guzman’s family to raise funds for funeral expenses.KCPD announced Tuesday night that Guzman had died.Emergency crews were called to Northeast Middle School in the 4900 block of Independence Avenue, near Chelsea and Brighton avenues, shortly after 9 a.m. At the time, investigators said a male student had been stabbed and was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. At about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, police announced the Guzman’s death. “What we can gather is there was some sort of confrontation that led up to this event,” a police spokesperson told KMBC. That confrontation and stabbing happened in a school bathroom. Northeast Middle School serves seventh and eighth grades. School superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell sent a letter home to parents and guardians on Tuesday:”It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that our Northeast Middle School (NEMS) student has passed away from today’s incident. At this time, we will wait for KCPD to release the student’s name to allow the family some time to grieve privately. We will do everything we can to make sure we support the families who are involved in this tragedy through this difficult time.”I am devastated for our students, our families, and our NEMS community. Tomorrow, we will have additional counselors and clinicians at NEMS to provide support for students and staff. We know this news may affect you, as you are part of the KCPS family. We are working to make sure every school has the resources they need to support students and staff this week. I trust our trauma team to lead this work as we move forward together.”Our students need us – now more than ever. Tomorrow, we start the difficult work of helping students and staff process grief and loss. I need you with Team KCPS to support our students and each other.”The school reopened Wednesday with additional security officers in the building.Additional counselors are also on hand for students. It’s tragicFamily members showed their support Wednesday, placing tokens of their love for 14-year-old Manuel Guzman outside the school.”It’s tragic. That was my little cousin. I didn’t get to say goodbye. I didn’t even get to say goodbye,” said Juan Guzman, cousin of Manuel Guzman.He said it won’t be the same when the family gets together.”He wanted to do a lot of things. He had so many goals and it got took from him. He can’t even achieve them,” Juan Guzman said.”His hugs. I don’t want to tear up but every time he would come to the rink, and we hadn’t seen each other in a while, I would get the biggest hug,” said Rylie Gibson-Startling, a friend of Manuel.Friends said they were all together just days ago having fun. They don’t understand how this could happen.”It’s crazy because they have metal detectors so how did the knife get in the school?” friend Veah Holmes said.Friends said they will remember Manuel’s love of music and driving with the windows down.”His music was always really loud and that’s how I knew he was coming up the street because he always had his music like blaring,” Gibson-Starling said.”I just hope he knows that his family loves him and we all…
Read More: KCPD identifies victim in Northeast Middle School stabbing