Share this @internewscast.com

Officials acknowledged unresolved questions Tuesday about a 16-year-old Oklahoma student who died one day after a fight in a high school bathroom.

The Feb. 7 fight happened at the Owasso High School West Campus, northeast of Tulsa, police and school officials said. 

Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, identified the teen Tuesday as Nex Benedict.

Nex was not a citizen of the nation but lived on the Cherokee reservation, Hoskin said in a statement. He said he had asked local authorities to assist the Owasso Police Department in its investigation of Nex’s death.

“The facts relating to Nex’s death are not yet fully clear,” Hoskin said, adding: “The more we learn about Nex’s life, the more we come to know a wonderful child whose experience and identity mattered and was worth celebrating. Above all, Nex deserved to live a full life.”

“It was cut tragically short,” he said. “May Nex rest in peace.”

Nex’s mother told the Independent that the 16-year-old had been bullied at school over their gender identity. Efforts by NBC News to reach Nex’s family were unsuccessful.

It’s unclear if the alleged bullying was linked to Nex’s Feb. 8 death. The student’s cause of death has not been made public, and the Owasso Police Department said Tuesday that it was unclear if the fight was related to the death. An investigation into the matter is ongoing, the department said.

The Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s Office did not provide additional details Tuesday.

In a statement Tuesday, Owasso Public Schools said that “speculation and misinformation” about the case had intensified in recent days over the “district’s commitment to student safety & security.”

“We understand the importance of ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students and know that the information below doesn’t change the facts that a fight occurred on school grounds and a student passed away the next day,” the statement said.

School district officials said the students involved in the fight were in the restroom for less than two minutes and the altercation was broken up by other students, along with a staff member who was supervising outside the bathroom.

All of the students “walked under their own power” to the nurse and assistant principal’s office after the fight, and administrators took statements and contacted their parents, according to the district.

The students were also given a health assessment by a district registered nurse, per protocol, school officials said.

“Out of an abundance of caution,” the parent of one student was advised to take their child to a medical facility for further evaluation, the district said in its statement.

Police were called to Bailey Medical Center by a parent who wanted to report that the student had been in a fight, according to the police statement. A school resource officer also responded to the hospital.

The teen was pronounced dead the next day, the police department said.

Sue Benedict, who identified herself as the student’s mother to KJRH, told the station that her child was a straight-A student who loved animals and enjoyed cooking. 

The district said the death was “devastating.”

“We recognize the impact that this event has had on the entire school community, and it is our priority to foster an environment where everyone feels heard, supported, and safe,” district officials said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Scientists capture the crackling sounds of what they believe is lightning on Mars

Researchers Record Potential Lightning Sounds on Mars

At Cape Canaveral, Florida, researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting…
No veteran should go hungry in America

Ensuring No Veteran Faces Hunger: A Call to Action for America’s Heroes

Recent data from U.S. government sources and financial studies reveal that nearly…
Asking Eric: After a birthday with no greetings, letter writer feels miserable

Feeling Forgotten: The Emotional Impact of Overlooked Birthdays Explored in ‘Asking Eric

Dear Eric, I’ve noticed a significant shift in how we live compared…
Chicago-area doctors worry over subclade K flu strain ahead of Thanksgiving 2025 holiday

Chicago Doctors Sound Alarm on Emerging K Flu Strain Threatening Thanksgiving 2025 Travel Plans

ELMHURST, Ill. — As the holiday season approaches, a surge of concern…
Anna Kepner dies mysteriously during family vacation on Carnival cruise ship: Timeline of events

Justice Sought: Anna Kepner’s Father Demands Accountability in Tragic Cruise Ship Incident

FBI probes Florida teens death on cruise ship In a recent segment…
Louisiana death row inmate freed after nearly 30 years as overturned conviction upends case

Louisiana Death Row Inmate Released After 30 Years: Landmark Overturned Conviction Sparks Justice Reform

A Louisiana man, after spending close to three decades on death row,…
Queens man who gunned down nephew in BBQ food fight convicted of murder

Queens BBQ Tragedy: Man Convicted for Fatal Shooting of Nephew Sparks Community Outrage

A Queens man has been found guilty of murder after fatally shooting…
Watch: Stephen Miller Absolutely Throttles Biden for Policies That Led to National Guard Terrorist Attack

Stephen Miller Criticizes Biden’s Policies Following National Guard Incident: Watch the Full Exchange

Stephen Miller, serving as Homeland Security Adviser, recently delivered a passionate critique,…
Colorado tourist found dead in Tobago with 'metal object protruding from back'

Tragic Incident: Colorado Tourist Discovered Dead in Tobago with Mysterious Metal Object

A Colorado-based tourist met a tragic fate in Tobago, where he was…
Erika Kirk shares emotional Thanksgiving message honoring Charlie: ‘What remains is sacred’

Erika Kirk’s Heartfelt Thanksgiving Tribute to Charlie: Embracing the Sacred Memories

Erika Kirk commemorated her family’s inaugural Thanksgiving without her late husband, Charlie…
National Guard member Sarah Beckstrom dies from wounds in DC attack

Tragic Loss: Honoring National Guard Member Sarah Beckstrom After DC Attack

WASHINGTON (AP) — On Thursday, President Trump shared that one of the…
Nigerian children as young as 5 among hundreds kidnapped, nun says

Tragic Rise in Kidnappings: Nigerian Children, Some Just 5, Among Victims

A significant number of children abducted from a Catholic school in Nigeria…