i was attracted to girls at that age (shouts to Britney Spears, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Moesha) he probably just felt he was attracted to guys.
may not even have been gay and just starting wake up to being attracted to people and not able to differentiate between romantic feelings and a strong liking for someone, but thats just something you grow to understand with life.
but whether he is or isnt too young to understand or know, why do 9 year olds think gays need to kill themselves