Los Angeles police have launched a death investigation at Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park after a student was killed in a fall from the school’s fourth floor on Wednesday.
In a letter sent to parents of FHS students, a Los Angeles Unified School District spokesperson said that the 820 N. Avenue 54 campus was placed on lockdown due to a medical emergency.
LAPD officers said they were called to the school to assist Los Angeles School Police with the incident, which has been deemed a death investigation.
The school was on lockdown for several hours before students were able to leave the campus just before 4 p.m.
“At first it was a shocker. It’s really sad to hear that a fellow student of mine that went to this school tragically passed away,” said a student named Welly. “Keep the family in your prayers, be respectful, of course.”
Students and parents stopped by the school throughout Wednesday night to leave flowers and candles in a memorial for the boy who died.
Family members identified the student as 17-year-old senior Xavier Nungaray.
His stepmom said Nungaray had been bullied throughout high school and was hesitant to speak up.
“He was scared that he was going to be punished instead of the bully,” she said.
Family members pointed to a video of a fight circulating online, saying it happened shortly before Nungaray fell off the fourth-floor balcony. Police have not said what led up to the fall.
Late Wednesday night, an LAUSD spokesperson shared an updated statement from FHS Principal Marine Davtyan.
“We recognize that events such as this can affect students and staff in different ways,” the statement said, in part. “The well-being of our school community remains our top priority. School mental health professionals and support staff will be available throughout the day tomorrow to provide counseling, support, and a safe space for students who may wish to talk.”
The school remained open on Thursday, and aerial footage of the campus showed an LA Fire Department ambulance transporting a person.
“LAFD responded to Franklin High School to assist an adult staff member who was experiencing a medical emergency,” the department said on Thursday morning.
An LAUSD spokesperson said the decision to keep the school open on Thursday, following Wednesday’s tragic event, was made to support students, staff, and families.
“Additional mental health supports are available on campus, including dedicated grief counselors and other trained support staff to help students and employees process and respond to the loss. These resources will remain available in the days ahead,” LAUSD said. “At the same time, families who choose to keep their children home today will be supported.”
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez said she was devastated by the tragic loss of a student. She added that her office will be committed to supporting Franklin students, families and the broader school community.
“Franklin is a special community that has shaped generations of young people in Northeast Los Angeles, myself included, and I am grieving alongside his family, friends, classmates, educators, and everyone who knew and loved him,” Hernandez wrote in a statement.
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