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Students at a Manhattan private school were left shaken and heartbroken after their beloved crossing guard was senselessly gunned down Sunday night on a Brooklyn subway train — with one student calling him “the sweetest guy I ever met.”

Richard Henderson, 45, had worked at Avenues The World School in Chelsea for more than a decade before he was killed intervening in a dispute between two others over loud music, school administrators said. 

The father of three and grandfather of two young girls had forged a bond with the students — both on the street as a crossing guard or on the playground as their unofficial security detail, children and parents said.

“He was the sweetest guy I ever met,” one senior, nicknamed “L,” told The Post through tears. “Always wanted the best for every student here. He would give every single kid a fist bump as they passed. Always had a smile on his face.

“We’re all going to miss him so much.”

Eighth grader Liv said she had known Henderson since she started at Avenues in nursery school.

“Every time my dad would drop me off, he would always say ‘hi’ and give every kid a fist bump,” Liv told The Post Tuesday. “He would make sure we got across the street and don’t get hit by any cars.

“Whenever he would go to the playground with us, he would push us on swings and help us climb the monkey bars.”

Henderson often acted as “their security guard” after classes ended – and would watch over the children until their parents picked them up.

Meanwhile, other students paid tribute to Henderson on a fundraiser set up to benefit his family – with some calling him a “hero” for his tireless work with kids.

Henderson “was not only a guardian at the crosswalks of the school where he tirelessly worked; Rich was a guardian to all those lucky enough to know him,” the verified fundraising campaign page reads.

“Richard’s life was a mosaic of selflessness and dedication,” the fundraising page said. “For over a decade, he served as a crossing guard, shepherding young lives safely, a role that mirrored his innate desire to protect and care for those around him.”

On Tuesday, head of school Judy Fox called Henderson “a beloved and cherished member of the Avenues New York community, serving as our crossing guard at 25th St. and 10th Avenue for the past decade.”

Henderson would always walk to area parks to look for things the kids lost during recess, because he didn’t want any kid going home without their jacket, she said.

The parents recognized his dedication, too – Fox said she regularly received emails gushing about how warm and caring he was.

“He came to work each day with a warm smile on his face and a kind word for all he came into contact with,” Fox said in a statement. “He made everyone feel special, cared deeply about our students, and was devoted to their safety and wellbeing.

“He was an amazing man who radiated warmth and joy,” she continued. “We grieve for his wonderful family and are heartbroken over his death. His loss will be deeply felt across our entire campus community but we are committed to honoring his memory and the legacy he leaves behind.”

Students at the Chelsea campus remembered him as a peaceful man always willing to help others — such as when he intervened in an argument over loud music playing on a Manhattan-bound 3 train on the night he was fatally shot.

Tenth grader Leo Prince, who started the fundraiser, told The Post over email that students “adored” Henderson – and they’re grappling with what he called a “huge loss for the whole community.

“I’m hopeful that people in my school community, Rich’s community, and just people that care about such a tragedy, end up giving,” Prince said Monday night. “When we created the GoFundMe, we set a goal of 10K. We are now at 12K. We’ve been using Instagram and Snapchat to get the word out.”

By Tuesday afternoon, the fundraiser had hauled in more than $140,000.

Students and associates also used the page’s comment section to frame out their memories of the revered man.

“I first met Rich when I was around 7 years old, more than 10 years ago,” Izzy Genin wrote on the fundraiser.

“I only remember him as someone I constantly looked up to and someone I could easily talk to,” Izzy continued. “My favorite memories of him include when he would play with us at the park. Rich had the biggest most beautiful heart, and anyone who knew him knew that about him.”

“He may be gone, but he is definitely not forgotten.”

Jessie Randall, the designer of Loeffler Randall, paid tribute to Henderson on her Instagram stories, writing, “This very special man was a beloved crossing guard at my sons’ school.

“I hate guns so much. Life is so unfair. Someone so kind senselessly murdered” she added, alongside a photograph of Henderson hugging a young boy.

A massive memorial stood outside the school, with a large, colorful chalk drawing that spelled out “In Loving Memory of Richie Henderson.”

Dozens of flower bouquets sat perched on the street corner Henderson always worked, along with a photo of him hugging a kid while wearing his uniform.

A senior named Calypso told The Post she saw the super-friendly Henderson every morning, and remembered him as the first person to welcome a friend of hers who was having a hard time adjusting to the new school.

“Seeing him every morning was such a huge part of the morning,” she said. “Especially because we just saw him on Friday. It’s something so hard to grasp, since we saw him so recently.”

On Tuesday, a fourth-grade teacher brought her kids to the memorial and let them write in chalk, “You will be missed.”

“Some of you may be having mixed feelings about this and have questions,” the teacher was overheard saying.

“And when we get back inside we can have a discussion,” the teacher said. “But people left flowers, notes and take pictures to honor his memory.”

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