The district attorney overseeing the case announced on Thursday that no charges will be brought in relation to the fight that happened the day before Nex Benedict, a nonbinary high school student, passed away by suicide in Oklahoma.
Students Involved in Fight With Nex Benedict Will Not Be Charged
The fight, which took place in a high school bathroom, was described by Stephen Kunzweiler, Tulsa County's district attorney, as a case of "mutual combat."
Additionally, Kunzweiler mentioned that Owasso police officers found "brief notes" believed to be related to Nex's suicide, although they did not reference the earlier fight or school difficulties. However, Nex's parents reported incidents of bullying due to various reasons.
Nex, who was transgender and used he and they pronouns, was involved in a fight with other students at Owasso High School West Campus on Feb. 7. The argument led to Nex being taken to the hospital by his mom, who reported the occurrence to the police.
The investigation looked into whether Nex's death on Feb. 8, ruled as suicide, was connected to the preceding fight. Although preliminary autopsy information initially suggested no trauma-related cause of death, the possibility of the fight contributing to or causing Nex's death was not ruled out later on.
Read Also : Nonbinary Teen Nex Benedict Involved in School Fight Died by Suicide, Medical Examiner Says
Death of Nex Benedict
The medical examiner's report determined Nex's death resulted from "combined toxicity" of two drugs, both legally available at Nex's home. Although Nex had visible injuries consistent with the prior fight, none were determined to have caused his death.
Kunzweiler's office reviewed law enforcement reports from the fight and the hospital visit. The altercation, involving two groups of students meeting during in-school suspension, occurred after antagonization between the groups in the days leading up to it. None of the students reported the behavior to school authorities.
In response to Nex's death, the family called for reforms to address bullying in schools, emphasizing the need for environments founded on respect and inclusion.
Kunzweiler referred to Nex's suicide as a "tragedy" and stressed the importance of allocating resources to combat the rising issue of suicide.
Independent Investigation on Nex Benedict's Death
GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis criticized the decision, calling for an independent investigation to uncover the truth about Benedict's experience and the treatment of marginalized youth in Oklahoma schools.
Kunzweiler noted that all involved in the fight were juveniles and had been antagonizing each other leading up to the altercation. Benedict, who identified as nonbinary, recounted pouring water on students who mocked their laughter and appearance during a police interview at the hospital following the fight.
Benedict's family called for reforms to combat bullying and promote inclusivity in schools.
The Department of Education initiated an investigation into Owasso Public Schools following concerns raised by the Human Rights Campaign. The school district reiterated its stance against bullying, emphasizing the seriousness with which such reports are addressed.
