Shocking twist in probe of LA teen who leaped to his death after classmate attack on video

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Investigators believe the teen who jumped to his death at a Los Angeles high school may have been the instigator of a shocking fight caught on video minutes before his death — complicating claims of bullying that swirled around the tragic incident.

LAPD sources say an arrest is unlikely in the case of the Xavier Nungaray-Martinez, 17, who died on Sept. 30 at Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park.

Witnesses said Nungaray-Martinez may have started the fight that was filmed and shared widely online.

Police have been unable to connect alleged bullying to the death of Xavier, who jumped from fourth-floor railing after the violent classroom clash — despite his family’s claims and video showing the confrontation that preceded his fatal fall.

Xavier’s father — who previously discussed his son’s death while calling for more police on LA school campuses — did not respond to requests for comment from the California Post.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled Xavier’s manner of death suicide, finding multiple blunt traumatic injuries to the teen’s head and torso.

Police said investigation isn’t over as they awit on a toxicology report that may shed light on exactly what happened in the moments before Xavier’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 said earlier this month.

The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division reviewed reports that bullying may have played a role in the incident and also examined other factors while waiting for the final autopsy report.

Police sources cautioned that their preliminary assessment should not be treated as a final determination.

Video taken inside the school showed the final moments leading up to the teen’s fall.

Footage appeared to Xavier being confronted by another student while a substitute teacher tried to intervene. A student is seen repeatedly punching Xavier, eventually knocking him to the ground.

A classmate can then be heard apparently taunting Xavier, saying “Run, n—a, run.”

Xavier can be seen getting up and running from the classroom into an outdoor hallway as another student follows behind. Moments later, Xavier is seen going over the fourth-floor railing.

Xavier’s stepmother had said bullying was part of the teen’s life. She told CBS Los Angeles that he was targeted regularly but was afraid to report it because he believed he could wind up getting in trouble.

“He was scared that he was going to end up getting punished instead of the bullies,” she told the station.

But investigators say they have not established a link between those allegations and the death.

Benjamin Franklin was locked down after the horrific incident, and a vigil followed the next evening, with relatives, classmates and community members leaving candles, flowers and other memorials near the campus.

The school reopened the following day, drawing criticism from some parents who said students were too traumatized to return to class. Additional mental health professionals were made available to students by the school district.

Netza Ortiz, a Los Angeles School Police Department public information officer, urged families to keep a close eye on their children.

“We encourage families to check in with their children and remind them that it is okay to seek support when needed,” Ortiz said. 

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