A high-school student was fatally stabbed just steps from his Bensonhurst home early yesterday — likely after being lured outside with a phone call from someone he knew, police sources and relatives said.
Kenny Chen, 17, a student at Murry Bergtraum HS, disobeyed his worried father and left the house just after midnight, only to be stabbed a few hours later on the corner of Benson Avenue and 26th Avenue in Brooklyn.
“Kenny got a phone call after midnight, and his father forbade him to leave,” said Chen’s uncle, Han Lin.
“He told his father, ‘Don’t worry. I’ll be right back,’ and Kenny ran out, and his father never saw him again.”
Chen’s cousin, Tammy Zhaon, added of the shattered father, “He’s in denial. He thinks Kenny’s still alive.”
Witnesses told police they saw several men running from the victim’s body shortly after 3:30 a.m., according to law-enforcement sources.
Chen was rushed to Coney Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
At the time of his murder, Chen was carrying a large amount of marijuana, police sources said.
Officials said they were not sure that the pot played any role.
Investigators are looking at Chen’s cellphone and computer for clues, and sources said photos on his Facebook page might include a picture of a person of interest.
Another cousin said she felt certain that Chen knew his killers.
“I know the guys he met that night are involved,” said the cousin, who did not want to be named. “He knew who killed him.”
Chen’s mother could be heard wailing in the family’s 26th Avenue home. “They killed my baby! They killed my baby!” the mom cried. “How do I go on living?”
Zhaon said, “Kenny’s a good kid, but he stays out a lot. He has two older sisters, so they considered him the favorite.”
Chen died in an alley about 30 feet from his home, amid sheets of cigarette-rolling paper. There have been no arrests.
“He was a beautiful kid,” said neighbor Sami Said. “He always had a smile on his face. It’s such a shame. He was only 17.”
Sources said that Chen had three sealed arrests but that none were for drugs.
Although he was stabbed in the stomach, officials said an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
The late-night violence had some residents worried about neighborhood safety.
“Nothing like this ever happens around here,” said neighbor Julie Granete. “This is a good area. I’m shocked and scared for my own teenage girl coming home late.
“I can’t believe they killed him.”
Additional reporting by Larry Celona