Los Angeles, California — A student at a Los Angeles high school died Wednesday after falling from a fourth-story building, prompting a lockdown as police investigated the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.
The fall was reported at around 1 p.m. at Benjamin Franklin High School, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Officers responded to the campus following reports of the student falling from the building.
The student was identified by police only as a boy. His name and age have not been released.
Police Say No Evidence of Foul Play
The circumstances surrounding the student’s fall remain under investigation.
According to police, however, there is currently no evidence of foul play connected to the incident. Investigators have not publicly disclosed what led to the fall or provided additional details about what happened immediately beforehand.
Video from the scene showed a shoe on the ground beneath an area that had been taped off by authorities. A canopy was later placed over part of the scene as investigators continued their work.
Authorities have not indicated that anyone else was involved in the student’s death.
Benjamin Franklin High School Placed on Lockdown
Following the incident, the campus was placed under lockdown while law enforcement remained at the school.
The lockdown meant that all gates and doors throughout the campus were locked, with students and staff remaining under the school’s emergency procedures until police gave the all clear.
The lockdown was still in effect as authorities continued investigating the incident. School officials also notified parents about the situation and explained why the emergency measures were being used.
Principal Sends Message to Parents
Principal Marine Davtyan sent a message to parents through LAUSD police following the incident.
The message said:
“The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff continues to be our top priority. A medical emergency has required our school to go into a ‘lockdown.’ A ‘lockdown’ means that all gates and doors in the entire school are locked. The campus will remain on ‘lockdown’ until law enforcement gives the ‘all clear’ to re-open the campus.”
The message emphasized that school officials were following established emergency procedures while law enforcement handled the investigation.
School Says Safety Procedures Are Being Followed
The principal’s message also reassured families that staff members had been trained to respond to emergencies.
“All procedures are being implemented according to District policy,” the note continued. “In addition, our staff is well trained and regularly reviews safety procedures. We will continue to keep you informed throughout this process. We thank you in advance for your cooperation and patience.”
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The school did not provide additional public details about the student or the circumstances of the fall.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
Police have not announced a motive or explained what caused the student to fall from the fourth-story building.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information could be released as detectives continue gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses.
For the school community, the incident has brought a tragic disruption to the campus as students, staff and families await more information from authorities.
At this time, officials have confirmed the student’s death and said there is no evidence of foul play, but many details surrounding the incident remain unclear.
What are your thoughts on this tragic incident at the Los Angeles high school? Share your thoughts and condolences for the student’s family and school community in the comments.
