Family of Franklin High student who fell to his death calls for security, accountability - BERITAJA

Family members of Xavier Nungaray-Martinez, the Franklin High School student who died aft a autumn from a fourth-floor corridor, called Tuesday for a return of schoolhouse constabulary to campuses and a heightened attraction connected stopping field bullying during a protestation successful beforehand of the schoolhouse district’s downtown headquarters.

They besides challenged the preliminary conclusion, by the region aesculapian examiner, that Xavier‘s decease connected Sept. 30 should beryllium classified arsenic a decease by suicide.

“He was not suicidal,” said his father, William Amaya, speaking publically for the first clip since his son’s death. “So conscionable to put that retired there, because they’re saying that he was, but he was not.”

The family is besides awaiting the results of the coroner’s toxicology tests, but said Tuesday they do not judge Xavier utilized narcotics and had ne'er heard him talk about narcotics connected campus.

Xavier, a 17-year-old senior, was recalled by his begetter arsenic a kind, shy, teen who enjoyed gaming and was looking guardant to graduation.

“He was looking guardant to commencement working,” Amaya said. “He had plans. He was trying to move on.”

Amaya was among a group of about half a twelve parents — including 2 different family members — who demonstrated extracurricular Tuesday’s gathering of the Board of Education.

“We’re trying to get our voices heard,” said Stephanie Amaya, who is William Amaya’s cousin. “Xavier has started a activity for each of us, and we’re present to conscionable inquire for protection for our kids. Bring backmost the schoolhouse police. That’s our main priority, and we want justice. That’s why we’re present outside, waiting for them to perceive us.”

She vowed to proceed the protests arsenic agelong arsenic necessary. Last week a group of territory parents called for officers to beryllium returned to campuses, reigniting a long-simmering statement about constabulary patrols astatine Los Angeles Unified schools. Other Franklin parents person focused connected counseling efforts and person not supported a constabulary presence.

In 2020, nether unit from organization and student activists who called for defunding police, the schoolhouse committee voted 4-3 to region officers from field and slash backing for the schoolhouse constabulary by 35%. A overmuch smaller constabulary unit continues to behaviour patrols and respond to emergencies.

“We request each azygous schoolhouse and each azygous kid to person a chance and consciousness protected successful their school,” said Amaya, who has started a petition calling for accrued surveillance measures, on-campus constabulary officers, training for non-police information staff, improving soul field connection and, particularly astatine Franklin, installing safer railing systems.

Family members said they judge Xavier was bullied and spot it arsenic a important problem astatine Franklin.

The Los Angeles Police Department said past week they are investigating allegations that “bullying whitethorn person contributed to the student’s death.”

Video taken moments earlier his autumn shows Xavier connected the crushed of a schoolroom being struck astatine slightest six times by a classmate. No video has emerged that shows what happened earlier the fight. Video besides shows a coach opinionated betwixt the students arsenic Xavier gets slow to his feet. The different student strikes 1 much rustle from behind, knocking Xavier to the ground. He stumbles up and runs from the classroom.

Another video, taken seconds later, shows Xavier astatine the railing. A antheral student who appears to beryllium the different personification progressive successful the conflict is quickly approaching Xavier erstwhile Xavier vaults complete the railing.

Police person not released accusation about the personification seen connected the video striking Xavier.

Xavier’s aunt, Elizabeth Amaya, said Tuesday that she challenged the uncovering of termination because if not for the fight, she said, Xavier would not person fled the classroom.

Elizabeth Amaya besides has a girl astatine the school, a senior, and Amaya said her girl besides feels that bullying is simply a problem and that the schoolhouse is struggling to retrieve from the tragedy.

Family members stressed that constabulary officers should not travel astatine the disbursal of counseling, which besides needs to beryllium accrued aliases improved, they said.

William Amaya added that he is simply a postgraduate of Franklin and location utilized to beryllium 1 aliases much officers connected field who collapsed up fights and deterred others by their presence. Former schoolhouse committee personnel David Tokofsky said that Franklin utilized to person 2 assigned officers retired of interest for keeping the field safe from the power of a notorious section gang.