John F. Kennedy Campus student stabbed to death

A mother should not have to pick out her daughter’s gravestone.

But Maria Valle was faced with that unnatrual task this week, after her daughter Karlenyz Cisneros, a 15-year-old frreshman at Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy in Kingsbridge, was stabbed and killed after school on friday may 26.

Police said officers from the 47th precinct responded to a call on Gunther Avenue that afternoon, and found Karlenyz stabbed once in the upper chest. She was taken to Montifore medical center, and pronounced dead hours later. Her mother stood by while doctors tried to save her life.

The following day, 17-year-old Raven Walker, who did not attend any of the schools on the John F. Kennedy campus where BETA is located, was arrested in the Bronx and charged with second degree murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon. The teen was arraigned in Brox criminal court on May 28th, and her next court appearance was scheduled for May 31st. She is being charged for an adult.

As she scrambled to make burial and funeral arrangements, Latinaborn Ms. Valle, said her daughter was a “good kid,” who kept to herself and dreamed of being a doctor. She traveled across the Bronx daily to attend the specialized school that might have been able to turn the dream into a reality.

“They just know her as the quiet kid. All she did was just smile,” she said.

Ms. Valle said her daughter was never in any trouble, had never been suspended from school, and though popular, mostly communicated with friends through SnapChat — opting to spend most of her free time hanging out with family, and listening to music.

“She was born here, but he loved his reggae music,” she said.

On the day daughter was killed, Ms. Valle said Karlenyz had come home from school and gone to visit her cousins. When he left their building, “Twenty-four guys jumped her and the one girl stabbed Karlenyz in her heart,” she said.

Ms. Valle did not believe she knew her attackers and thinks the incident was gang related.

It gotta be a gang. But she’s not in a gang,” she said.

Raven is being represented by Neville Mitchell of Mitchell Law Office PC, who said the teen pleaded not guilty at the arraignment, where bail was set at $250,000 with a half millionbond alternative — amounts he considers excessive and said he will appeal.

“She denies any involvement with stabbing the person who passed away. She looks forward to her day in court and fully expects to be exonerated,” he said, adding that Raven has no criminal background and comes from a stable family.

Ms. Valle said the school offered its full support when personnel learned of Karlenyz’s death. She said that within an hour of informing BETA Principal Rashid Davis of what had happened, he, the school guidance counselor and an additional counselor were at her home. The principal, who declined to comment on what happened, is scheduled to make a speech at the funeral later this week, Ms. Valle said.

“Our hearts go out to her family, and the school has a crisis team at the school for students and staff. This is a police matter and there is no evidence that the incident was school-related,” said Department of Education spokeswoman Marge Feinberg.

Debbi Effinger, principal of Bronx Theatre High School on the John F. Kennedy Campus, who visited BETA the morning of the incident, said she was shocked by the news.

It’s very quiet here,” she said, adding, “Things go on in people’s neighborhoods that don’t necessarily go on inside the school.”