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
Texas father rescues kidnapped daughter by tracing her phone's location, sheriff's office says

Heroic Texas Dad Tracks Down Kidnapped Daughter Using Phone GPS, Reports Sheriff’s Office

A Texas father heroically rescued his 15-year-old daughter after using her phone’s…
NY bans anonymous child abuse reports to prevent misuse as harassment

New York Implements Ban on Anonymous Child Abuse Reports to Curb Harassment and Misuse

Starting next year, a new law will mandate callers to New York’s…
Chicago crime: 17-year-old suspect's weapon fires during struggle with police officers on West 71st Street in West Lawn, CPD says

Teen Suspect’s Gun Discharges During Intense Police Confrontation in Chicago’s West Lawn: CPD Reports

In a tense encounter on Chicago’s Southwest Side, a firearm was discharged…
How New York's airports could be jeopardizing your personal data

Is Your Personal Data Safe? The Hidden Threats Lurking in New York’s Airports

It seems that online security measures at New York City’s airports are…
Houston chemical leak: 44 treated after sulfuric acid leak at BWC Terminals industrial facility, Texad officials say

Chemical Spill at Houston Facility: 44 People Receive Treatment Following Sulfuric Acid Leak at BWC Terminals

A sulfuric acid leak at a southeast Texas industrial facility has resulted…
Nigerian villagers in Jabo are rattled by US airstrikes that made their homes shake and the sky glow red

US Airstrikes Shake Nigerian Village: Jabo Residents Witness Sky Turn Red

JABO, Nigeria — On a seemingly ordinary Thursday night in the Nigerian…
Brigitte Bardot, 1960s sultry sex symbol turned militant animal rights activist dies at 91

Legendary Icon and Animal Rights Advocate Brigitte Bardot Passes Away at 91

In 1969, Brigitte Bardot’s captivating allure led to her likeness becoming the…
Woman, 73, pummeled by stranger in Harlem subway elevator in argument over attacker’s child

73-Year-Old Woman Assaulted in Harlem Subway Elevator Following Dispute Involving Attacker’s Child

Authorities are on the hunt for a woman who allegedly assaulted a…
Texas 19-year-old Camila Mendoza Olmos vanishes outside her home on Christmas Eve

Urgent Appeal: Texas Teen Camila Mendoza Olmos Mysteriously Disappears on Christmas Eve

A search operation is actively ongoing in Texas as authorities look for…
Italian authorities arrest 9 people who allegedly used charities to funnel more than $8m to Hamas

Italian Authorities Detain Nine Suspects in Alleged $8 Million Charity Funds Diversion to Hamas

In a significant crackdown, Italian authorities have detained nine individuals associated with…
Gordon Ramsay's daughter Holly ties the knot with Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty

Holly Ramsay and Olympic Swimmer Adam Peaty Celebrate Their Wedding Day

In a delightful union that has captured public attention, Holly Ramsay, the…
Journey to Italy: A land of history, art and timeless beauty

Discover Italy: Unveiling the Rich Tapestry of History, Art, and Unforgettable Beauty

Experience the captivating fusion of antiquity and modernity in Italy, where the…