Father seeks accountability after son’s fatal fall at Los Angeles school
Xavier Nungaray-Martinez, 17, died after falling from the fourth floor of Benjamin Franklin High School in Los Angeles on 30 September. His father, William Amaya, says an alleged assault and bullying contributed to his son’s death and is demanding accountability and stronger school security; police say they have not found evidence linking bullying to the death, and no charges have been filed.
Video reportedly shows Xavier being punched and taunted in a classroom before he ran out, while a teacher tried to intervene. His family says neither the school nor Los Angeles Police contacted them, while the school district has expressed condolences but declined to discuss the circumstances. A petition calling for increased security had gathered more than 740 signatures by Wednesday evening.
- Xavier Nungaray-Martinez died after falling at his Los Angeles high school.
- His father says bullying and an alleged assault contributed to his death.
- Police say they have found no evidence linking bullying to the death.
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Benjamin Franklin High School is a public school in Los Angeles, part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Xavier Nungaray-Martinez was 17 when he died after falling from the school’s fourth floor on 30 September.
His father, William Amaya, says bullying and an alleged assault contributed to his son’s death and is seeking accountability. Police say they have found no evidence linking bullying to the death, and no charges have been filed.
The case has raised questions about how schools respond to reports of bullying and keep pupils safe. The school district has expressed condolences but has not discussed the circumstances, while a petition calling for stronger security has attracted hundreds of signatures.
Both sides, in good faith
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The case for
Xavier’s father argues that reports of an assault and bullying, alongside calls for better school security, warrant a full account of what happened and whether the school could have protected his son. From this perspective, reviewing the school’s response and improving safeguards may help address risks and reassure families, even while the circumstances of the fall remain under investigation.
The case against
Police say they have found no evidence linking bullying to Xavier’s death, and no charges have been filed, so it would be premature to treat the reported classroom incident as its cause or assign responsibility. The school district may also have reasons to avoid discussing an individual case before the facts are established, while any changes to security should be based on a clear assessment of what happened and what measures could have prevented harm.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Dad outraged after no charges were filed against suspected school bully accused of driving boy, 17, to kill himself by jumping off fourth floor balcony”.