Full Breakdown
Highland Park High School Student Dies After Falling From Fourth-Floor Balcony
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
During school hours on a Wednesday, a male student at Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park fell from a fourth-floor balcony and was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The fall occurred shortly after a fight broke out inside a classroom, after which the student was seen running down a hallway and leaping over the railing. The incident prompted an immediate lockdown of the campus at around 1 p.m.
Witness Accounts
Students who were present reported that two male classmates were fighting inside the classroom when a teacher intervened. Video obtained by local media shows one student striking the other, after which the victim runs down the hallway and appears to jump over the balcony railing. A classmate described the deceased as “the quiet kid in class” who “didn’t really say anything.”
Investigation Status
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is leading a formal death investigation, assisted by campus police and the Los Angeles Fire Department, which transported the student to the hospital. The investigation remains active, and the department has not released further details.
Official Responses
Marine Davtyan, a Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman, said the lockdown was required because of a medical emergency and emphasized that “all procedures are being implemented according to district policy.” Former Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo expressed condolences on social media and urged the public not to share graphic videos of the tragedy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “All procedures are being implemented according to district policy," Davtyan said.” — Marine Davtyan, from school principal
The incident underscores ongoing concerns about student safety and the need for clear protocols during emergencies in schools.
