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2 Held Without Bail In Connection With Murder Of New Bedford Teen

NEW BEDFORD (CBS) -- Two people have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 15-year-old boy Wednesday night in New Bedford.

Luis Rafael Class, 21, of New Bedford, and a 16-year-old boy were ordered held without bail Thursday in the stabbing death of Mateo Morales.

Morales was stabbed near Middle and Chancery Streets around 6:20 p.m. Wednesday. Friends say he ran home to his parents' house, and his mother called 911.

Class and the 16-year-old were arrested Thursday.  Class is charged with assault and battery and accessory to murder after the fact. The 16-year-old boy, who was not identified due to his age, was also charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Neighbors said Morales was a good kid with plenty of friends.

"Why you take this little 15-year-old baby?" said Frances Curley-Pugh, who lives nearby. "He's a baby, he didn't have a chance to experience life. And then you gotta take some kid's life, over something stupid? Don't you think it's time for New Bedford to wake up and realize what's going on?"

Two other people, ages 16 and 22, were also stabbed, but they survived the attack.

Class is expected back in court September 28 for a pretrial hearing.

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