JFK students mourn murdered classmate

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The long table in the conference room of John F. Kennedy High School was covered in handwritten letters, posters festooned with drawings and cutouts of hearts and a large collage with blocks of color and words cut out of magazines. 

The result was colorful and artistic but the content was just the opposite — dark, sad and, in some cases, disbelieving. 

“Its [sic] messed up because I used to see him every day after 3rd period. Life is messed up and I still ask myself Why you? [sic]” one message read. The words, written in pink, were inside a heart glued to a poster with other writings and two pictures of Alexander “AJ” Walters, a JFK sophomore.  

AJ left school on March 8, heading home to his apartment on Baychester Avenue in Co-op City. On his way, he stopped at a bodega, where there was a “large dispute,” police said. He was stabbed in the chest. 

Police arrived at around 3:30 p.m. and the victim was taken to Jacobi Medical Center. Considered “likely to die,” he was put on life support. 

AJ, a wide receiver on Kennedy’s junior varsity football team, was taken off life support on March 14. He was 16 years old. 

 “He was a really good kid with a big smile,” JFK Principal Lisa Luft said. “ … It’s heartbreaking.” 

Nine suspects were arrested in connection with the incident. 

Ms. Luft said AJ’s nickname was Eddie Murphy because he always had a smile, something many students wrote about in their notes and on posters. 

“ … you always had a smile on your face even last Thursday the last time I saw you you where so happy smileing and talking and siting right next to me and laughing … [sic]” Kymberlee Andrews wrote in her note. 

The school offered counseling for AJ’s fellow students, many of whom flocked to the conference room to do artwork, write letters, eat chocolate chip cookies from Stew Leonard’s or just talk. Ms. Luft said the death hit the school particularly hard because AJ is the second Kennedy student murdered this year. 

Kurt Lawrence, a 17-year-old senior and member of the varsity football team, was shot and killed at 1824 Prospect Ave. in November.

Nikki Dowling, John F. Kennedy High School,
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