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
New text messages fuel Alex Murdaugh's push for new trial

Legal Twist: Could Court Clerk’s Misconduct Open the Door for a Murdaugh Retrial?

Alex Murdaugh’s defense team has expressed a sense of “cautious optimism” regarding…
Could buying enough Powerball tickets guarantee a win?

Cracking the Powerball Code: Can Purchasing Tickets in Bulk Secure a Jackpot Victory?

With the astronomical odds of 1 in 292 million, securing a Powerball…
Chicago Ald. Matt O'Shea hosts South Side holiday breakfast to spread cheer, benefit Mt. Greenwood Special Recreation Association

Chicago Alderman Matt O’Shea Organizes South Side Holiday Breakfast to Support Mt. Greenwood Special Recreation Association

CHICAGO—A heartwarming event on Chicago’s South Side is spreading holiday cheer and…
Colin Jost Gets Punked by Michael Che’s Brutal Christmas Joke Swap on ‘SNL’ 2025

Michael Che’s Hilarious Christmas Prank on Colin Jost: A Must-See SNL Moment!

For many seasons, Saturday Night Live co-anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che…
Abdul Carter's brutal penalty wipes out pick-six in Giants' loss

Costly Penalty by Abdul Carter Nullifies Key Interception in Giants’ Defeat

Abdul Carter’s performance was noteworthy in the Giants’ recent game, yet it…
Australia vows to strengthen hate speech laws, gun control in wake of Bondi Beach attack

Australia Commits to Tougher Hate Speech and Gun Control Laws Following Bondi Beach Incident

In the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting at Bondi Beach during…
Palm Coast man sentenced to 30 years for felony child sex charges, police say

Palm Coast Resident Receives 30-Year Sentence for Felony Child Sex Crimes, Authorities Confirm

Following his release, Gregory Smith will be mandated to register as a…
Manhunt underway in South Africa after gunmen open fire at tavern, killing 9 and wounding 10

Massive Search Launched in South Africa Following Deadly Tavern Shooting with 9 Dead, 10 Injured

In a tragic incident early Sunday, nine individuals lost their lives and…
Powerball drawing: Can I buy tickets online?

Powerball Jackpot Soars to Record-Breaking $1.6 Billion: Discover Its Place in Lottery History

In a thrilling turn of events, the Powerball jackpot is soaring to…
Fisherman survives near-fatal shark attack with own lifesaving care, instincts that kept him alive

Heroic Fisherman Defies Odds: Survives Near-Fatal Shark Attack Using Remarkable Self-Rescue Techniques

A fisherman from Hawaii is recounting his harrowing ordeal after a life-threatening…
Jacksonville domestic violence incidents highlight uptick often seen during holiday season

Holiday Surge: Unveiling the Alarming Rise in Jacksonville Domestic Violence Cases

This week in Jacksonville, Florida, the community was rocked by two separate…
RICHARD JOHNSON: Meghan Markle afraid to visit ailing father due to paparazzi

Meghan Markle Reluctant to Visit Ill Father Amidst Paparazzi Concerns, Reports Suggest

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, wishes to see her father, who…