William Amaya disputes the medical examiner’s determination about his 17-year-old son’s death. The family is seeking answers as questions grow about bullying allegations, campus safety and student support at the Highland Park school.
William Amaya remembers his son as a teenager who had plans for the future. Xavier Nungaray Martinez, 17, enjoyed video games and was looking forward to graduating from high school and starting work.
“He was not suicidal,” Amaya told the Los Angeles Times, challenging the medical examiner’s determination that his son died by suicide after falling from a fourth-floor corridor at Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park on September 30. “So just to put that out there, because they’re saying that he was, but he was not.”
Amaya wants answers about what happened before his son’s death. He and other relatives believe bullying may have played a role and are demanding accountability. They have also called for police officers to return to Los Angeles Unified School District campuses.
For the family, the priority is establishing what happened to Xavier. Their concerns also bring attention to the resources available to students dealing with bullying, conflict, and emotional difficulties.
What happened at Franklin High?
Videos recorded shortly before Xavier’s death show an altercation in a classroom. In footage reviewed by the Los Angeles Times, another student repeatedly strikes Xavier while he is on the floor. A teacher intervenes, but the student delivers another blow before Xavier gets up and runs out of the room.
A second video shows Xavier near the fourth-floor railing shortly before his fall.
The footage has intensified concerns among relatives and other parents about bullying and school security. However, it does not establish what led to Xavier’s fall or whether the confrontation caused his death.
The Los Angeles Police Department has said it is investigating allegations that bullying may have contributed to the incident. The family disputes the medical examiner’s finding and is seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding the death.
Amaya’s account of his son’s plans and personality is central to why the family questions the official determination. Consider his statements alongside the findings of the ongoing investigation.
What mental health support is available?
Franklin High already has services designed to help students experiencing emotional difficulties or dealing with traumatic events.
According to the school’s official website, its mental health professionals work with students to develop coping skills, strengthen relationships, and navigate personal or school-related challenges. Students can contact the school’s psychiatric social workers for referrals to LAUSD mental health clinics and wellness centers. The school also offers therapy through a partnership with Hathaway Sycamore, a mental health services provider.
The school’s published counseling directory for the 2026 to 2027 academic year lists counselors responsible for students across different last name groups, as well as college and career counseling services.
These resources establish that support is available. They do not, by themselves, show how many students seek help, how quickly appointments are available, or whether staffing meets the needs of the entire school community.
Those are important questions following Xavier’s death. How many psychiatric social workers serve Franklin High? How many students do they support? What additional counseling is available to students affected by the incident, and will that support continue beyond the immediate aftermath?
The district’s published information does not answer all these questions. LAUSD should provide current staffing figures and explain what ongoing services are available to Franklin students.
A wider concern about teenagers’ mental health
National data provide further context for the discussion about student support.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 33% of US high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the previous year. Fourteen percent seriously considered attempting suicide, 12% made a suicide plan, and 6% reported attempting suicide.
These figures describe teenagers nationwide, not students at Franklin High. They cannot explain Xavier’s circumstances or establish that he experienced mental health problems.
They do show why schools need accessible support systems and trusted adults who can respond when students are struggling. Counseling services, clear reporting procedures for bullying, and timely intervention can all play a role in student well-being.
For Xavier’s family, however, the immediate issue remains the circumstances of his death, not a broader statistical picture of teenage mental health.
The questions facing LAUSD
Amaya and other relatives want police officers returned to school campuses, arguing that a stronger security presence could help prevent fights and protect students.
The proposal is part of a continuing debate over school safety in LAUSD. Some parents support campus police, while student advocates have called for more counselors, trained staff, and approaches that address conflict before it escalates. Family members have stressed that security should not come at the expense of mental health services.
The district faces questions about both immediate safety and continuing student support. Officials need to explain how bullying complaints are handled, how staff intervene when fights occur, and whether students can access counseling when they need it.
For Amaya, those questions begin with his son. He remembers a young man who had plans for his future and rejects the conclusion that Xavier intended to end his life.
As investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the death, the family is asking for answers and accountability. The district, meanwhile, has an opportunity to explain what protections and support are available to students and where improvements may be needed.
The priority is to establish what happened to Xavier while ensuring that concerns raised by his family receive serious attention.
