Bullied Teen's Death Ruled Suicide by Coroner
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined the manner of death for 17-year-old Xavier Nungaray-Martinez, who fell from a school balcony after an altercation.
The death of Xavier Nungaray-Martinez, a 17-year-old student at Benjamin Franklin High School, has been ruled a suicide by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. Nungaray-Martinez died on September 30 from multiple blunt traumatic injuries to the head and torso, according to officials.
The ruling comes after disturbing video footage showed the teenager being physically assaulted by a classmate in a classroom before he fell from a fourth-floor railing at the school. The video depicted Nungaray-Martinez being taunted and repeatedly punched by another student, an incident an elderly teacher attempted to intervene in.
After the classroom altercation, Nungaray-Martinez ran into an outdoor hallway, with the other student pursuing him. Shortly after, Nungaray-Martinez leaped over the railing. His family has stated that he experienced bullying throughout his high school years, describing him as a quiet and caring individual who was reluctant to report the abuse he endured.
The Los Angeles Police Department is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the teenager's final moments.