The father of 17-year-old Xavier Nungaray-Martinez is speaking out, and honestly, the real tea is just heartbreaking. Xavier, a student at Franklin High School, died on Sept. 30 after falling from a fourth-floor railing. While the LA County Medical Examiner officially ruled his death a suicide, his father, William Amaya, highkey disagrees.

The background

Disturbing footage has been circulating online showing Xavier being taunted and physically attacked by a classmate inside a classroom. An elderly teacher tried to step in, but it wasn’t enough. Shortly after that confrontation, Xavier ran into an outdoor hallway and went over the railing. Amaya insists his son wasn’t struggling with suicidal ideation, telling reporters, “He was not. He was looking forward to start working, he had plans.”

The push for change

Amaya and Xavier’s aunt, Stephanie Amaya, were outside an LA Unified School District (LAUSD) board meeting Tuesday, demanding better protection. They are calling for the return of police officers to school campuses, arguing that the “school climate coaches” currently in place aren’t doing the job. Back in 2021, the board voted to remove police from campuses, a policy the family is now fighting hard to reverse.

Stephanie has launched a petition with over 680 signatures, calling for more security cameras, trained police officers, and safer railings on every floor. Meanwhile, the LAPD says they haven’t found evidence linking the bullying to the death, though the investigation is ongoing. No charges have been filed against the boy seen in the video.

Why it matters

This is about more than just one school. The family’s fight is sparking a massive conversation about student safety and whether current security measures are actually keeping kids alive. For you, this highlights the growing tension between school districts and parents over who is responsible for preventing school-based violence. If you’re a student in LA, this could mean major shifts in how security is handled at your school in the coming months. A GoFundMe for the family has already raised nearly $190,000 to help with funeral costs.