Investigators are exploring the possibility that Xavier Nungaray-Martinez, the 17-year-old who died on September 30 after falling from a fourth-floor railing at Benjamin Franklin High School in Los Angeles, may have been the instigator of the fight that occurred shortly before his death. This development complicates earlier claims of bullying surrounding the incident.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has stated that while they are awaiting a toxicology report, preliminary findings have not established a link between bullying allegations and Nungaray-Martinez's death. "At this preliminary stage of the investigation, detectives have not identified evidence establishing a connection between allegations of bullying and the student’s death," the LAPD announced.
Witness accounts suggest Nungaray-Martinez may have initiated the confrontation that was captured on video and widely shared online. The footage appears to show him being confronted by another student while a substitute teacher attempts to intervene. The video depicts one student repeatedly punching Nungaray-Martinez, causing him to fall to the ground. A voice in the background is heard taunting him.
Following the classroom altercation, Nungaray-Martinez is seen exiting the classroom and running into an outdoor hallway, pursued by another student. Moments later, he is seen going over the fourth-floor railing. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner officially ruled the death a suicide, citing multiple blunt traumatic injuries to the head and torso.
Nungaray-Martinez's father had previously spoken out about his son's death, calling for increased police presence on LA school campuses. However, he did not respond to requests for comment regarding the latest investigative findings. The teen's stepmother had previously told CBS Los Angeles that her stepson was regularly bullied but was afraid to report it for fear of being punished himself.
The LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division has been reviewing reports and examining evidence, including the video footage, as part of their ongoing investigation. Police sources have emphasized that their current assessment is preliminary and not a final determination.
Following the incident, Benjamin Franklin High School was temporarily locked down. A vigil was held the following evening, with community members gathering to leave memorials. The school reopened the next day, a decision that drew criticism from some parents concerned about student trauma. The school district subsequently made additional mental health professionals available to students.
Netza Ortiz, a public information officer for the Los Angeles School Police Department, advised families to remain attentive to their children's well-being. "We encourage families to check in with their children and remind them that it is okay to seek support when needed," Ortiz stated.