Teacher dies of overdose at NYC school

Friends and colleagues are mourning the loss of a beloved special needs teacher who was found dead of an apparent drug overdose in a city school.

It happened Thursday at P.S. X811 on Longfellow Ave. in the South Bronx.  The body of 36-year-old Matthew Azimi was found in the basement.

The NYPD is investigating the case and whoever sold him the drugs could be charged with murder.

"Right now we have an unstamped bag of heroin and syringes that he just bought that day at RiteAid, we have a receipt in his pocket," NYPD Chief of Department Robert Boyce said.  "We'll go back to phone records to see where he bought these items from."

Azimi was described as a devoted father, husband and teacher to special needs students.

The Department of Education issued a statement saying:  “We are providing grief counselors and ongoing resources to support students and staff during this difficult time.” 

Chief Boyce says officers are constantly making major drug busts, mostly of heroin and fentanyl.  He says the Bronx is the most heavily inundated borough in the city.

Even though police believe the teacher used the drugs himself, the death is being considered a homicide, which is city policy.