Franklin High School student death sparks calls for increased campus security

The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the death of 17-year-old Xavier Nungaray-Martinez, a student at Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office ruled the death a suicide after the teen fell from a fourth-story balcony on September 30 following a physical altercation in a classroom.

While social media and news reports have alleged that bullying contributed to the incident, the LAPD stated that detectives have not yet identified evidence establishing a connection between bullying and the death. The department emphasized that its preliminary assessment is not a final determination and that the investigation remains active.

In response to the tragedy, a group of Los Angeles Unified School District parents has called for the return of police officers to school campuses, citing concerns over security and bullying. Video footage of the incident shows a classroom altercation where one student punches another before the victim exits the room and falls from the balcony.