If you have to put him in the friend zone, then do it. But don't be cowardly.

your friends needs her butt kicked

I hope you apologized to him.

You clearly have a different definition of "friend" to the rest of us. What does she do to people you like only as a casual acquaintance?

I'm sorry, but that's something you should've done yourself. 1. You can't trust another person to convey your message. 2. You owe it to the guy to give him a straightforward refusal in person, it's really disheartening and makes him feel like you don't think enough of him to do it yourself. It sucks that this happened, and I can definitely relate to those feelings of fear, but I kinda feel like it's your fault, and you should definitely go to him and apologize and do this correctly. Even then though, his confidence and pride will have taken a serious blow.

Well that's one way of doing things.

Really...

Show the guy some common courtesy and tell him yourself. I feel very... basic, commenting a piece of opinion in such a blunt way, actually.

That's a weak move OP.

Well, it's effective