LOS ANGELES, CA — As police continue to investigate Wednesday's death of a 17-year-old student at Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park, troubling reports are emerging that the boy was regularly bullied at the school before jumping or falling to his death from a fourth-floor balcony.
The student, identified as 17-year-old Xavier Nungaray by his family, suffered the fatal injuries at about 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Students told reporters at the scene that Nungaray was involved in a brief fight inside a classroom prior to the fall. Video aired by television news broadcasts showed two students in an altercation in the classroom, with a teacher standing between them trying to separate the pair.
One of the students punches the other in the face, knocking him to the ground. That student then got up and scrambled out of the classroom, apparently jumping over the balcony a short time later.
Students and community members hosted the vigil at the school Thursday evening as a memorial of candles, flowers and other remembrances continued to grow at the site.
An array of candles in the shape of a cross adorned a display of flowers and photos of Nungaray at Thursday evening's vigil. Family, community members and classmates came together to pay their respects.
Some criticized the school for re-opening the day after the tragedy, though the school did provide additional mental health professionals to offer counseling and support for students.
Nungaray's stepmother told CBS2 that he was bullied regularly at the school but was afraid to speak up.
"He was scared that he was going to end up getting punished instead of the bullies," she told the station.
An LAUSD spokesperson provided the following statement to City News Service on Saturday:
"Our hearts are with family, friends, classmates, teachers, and the Franklin High School community during this difficult time. Los Angeles Unified is working closely with the school, providing support and resources to students and staff who may be impacted by this loss.
"A District crisis team has been in place at the school, providing grief counseling and other mental health support to students and staff. These include individual counseling sessions, classroom visits, and referrals to services for those with more intense needs. They will continue to be onsite through the coming days," the statement continued.
"Meanwhile, the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department."
Police told CNS on Saturday that they had no updates on the ongoing investigation.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis released the following statement Saturday:
"I am heartbroken by the death of a Franklin High School student. My thoughts are with his family, friends, classmates and everyone at Franklin High School mourning this terrible loss. Every student deserves to feel safe when they walk into school. The reports about what happened, including concerns about bullying, are deeply troubling and must be taken seriously. Students and families who need support can contact Los Angeles Unified's Student & Family Wellness Resource Line at 213-241-3840.
"The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Help Line is also available 24/7 at 800-854-7771 for mental health support and referrals. As the investigation continues, I will continue to follow what happened and remain focused on supporting Xavier's family and the school community affected by this devastating loss."
LAUSD Superintendent Andrés Chait posted the following statement on social media:
"There are no easy words when we lose one of our students. The loss is felt across our entire LAUSD community. Our hearts are with family, friends, classmates, teachers and impacted communities during this difficult time.
"Counseling and other support services are available to students and employees, and we will continue to provide care to the community in the days ahead."
Ashtar Martinez, a student at the school, told CBS2 he had known Nungaray since tenth grade.
"It's tragic to see what happened to him because I saw him alive earlier during third period," he said. "For the family, my condolences to them, and I hope they get the justice they need."
Eleo Rolon, a parent of a classmate of Nungaray's, also expressed his grief to the station.
"[My daughter] knew the person. She had him for math class. She said he was a real nice kid," he said. "I'm surprised they didn't cancel school today to be honest."
A GoFundMe page described Nungaray as "a beautiful, caring and loving boy who meant so much to the people around him."
"His passing has left a deep void in the hearts of those who knew and loved him," according to the page, which is at gofundme.com/f/help-lilia- honor-their-beloved-son. The page had raised over $169,000 as of Saturday.
Meanwhile, Our Voice, Communities for Quality Education -- a nonprofit organization that says it "uses 21st century technologies to empower Latino and Indigenous immigrant families so that they can actively participate in the betterment of public education in Los Angeles" -- issued the following statement Saturday:
"In moments like this, words are never enough. But silence is not an option either, not for an organization whose entire purpose is to ensure that the voices of our Latino and Indigenous immigrant families are heard, especially when they are hurting.
"We know from our daily work with families across the Los Angeles Unified School District that grief, fear, and a sense of disconnection from the institutions meant to serve them are not new feelings for our community. When a young life is lost, those feelings intensify. Families want to know that their children are seen, that their pain is acknowledged, and that the schools entrusted with their children's well-being truly understand who those children are and where they come from.
"This is not simply a communication gap. It is a cultural gap, one that cannot be bridged by press releases alone, even well-intentioned ones. It requires sustained, authentic, and culturally rooted engagement with the families who make up nearly 75% of this district's students.
"Our Voice has always believed that the relationship between schools and immigrant families must be built on trust, respect, and genuine understanding, not just in times of crisis, but every single day. We renew that commitment today. To the family of the student we lost: we see you, we grieve with you, and we stand with you."
— City News Service
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