He may be older but he doesn't have a strong emotional hold. The boy just wants peace and to be understood. He was taken from his mother at the age of 4 since she was abusive towards him. His father had cancer and smoked himself to the point of no recovery. He's just angry and feels unloved and abandoned. Please speak with him and try to make amends with him.
Don't use his mental state as something to ruin his image if he refuses to listen.