Xavier Nungaray, a senior at Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park, Los Angeles, died on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. This page covers what his family, officials and established news outlets have confirmed, and what has not been released. Our deepest condolences go to his family, friends, classmates and teachers.
Latest Update: October 2, 2026
As of October 2, 2026, CBS Los Angeles reports that family members identified the student who died at Franklin High School as 17-year-old senior Xavier Nungaray. Police had not officially released his name, according to KTLA and MyNewsLA. A vigil was planned for 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, at the school, and attendees were asked to wear red or blue, which organizers said were his favorite colors. The school stayed open on Thursday with mental health professionals on site, according to Yahoo News and CBS Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Police Department, school police and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner are investigating. No official finding on how or why this happened has been announced, and this page does not repeat details from videos or unconfirmed accounts. The spelling “Nungaray” is the one CBS Los Angeles reports from his family. Some websites spell it differently.
What Is Confirmed
The death occurred at about 1 p.m. on September 30, 2026, at the Franklin High School campus, 820 North Avenue 54, in Highland Park. LAUSD told families that “a medical emergency” had put the school on lockdown. KTLA reports that he was rushed to a hospital and died there. CBS Los Angeles says the lockdown lasted about four hours. Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, whose district includes Highland Park, said she was “devastated” and grieving with his family and the Franklin community.
What His Family and Friends Have Shared
A GoFundMe page describes Xavier as “a beautiful, caring, and loving boy who meant so much to the people around him.” CBS Los Angeles reports that his stepmother said he had been bullied throughout high school and was hesitant to speak up. That is the family’s account. Police have not said what led to the incident, and this page does not draw a conclusion. People who knew him have gathered at a memorial outside the school gates, according to CBS Los Angeles.
What Is Not Yet Known
The medical examiner has not announced a cause or manner of death in the sources I found. Funeral and memorial arrangements have not been published. Reports also disagree on his age, with CBS Los Angeles saying 17 and Fox 11 describing an 18-year-old whom friends identified only as Xavier. This page uses the family’s age of 17.
Support for Students and Families
LAUSD has made counselors and mental health professionals available at Franklin High School. Families can contact the school directly for support. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline in the United States, at any time. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
A Caution About Fundraisers and Rumors
A fundraiser for the family has been shared online. Only give through a link you can trace to the family or to a trusted news report, since fake fundraisers often appear after a high-profile death. Some websites have posted articles about this death with details they cannot source, and those should not be shared as fact.
Quick Table
| Name | Xavier Nungaray (spelling per CBS Los Angeles, from family) |
|---|---|
| Age | 17 (per family); one report says 18 |
| School | Benjamin Franklin High School, Highland Park, Los Angeles; senior |
| Date of Death | Wednesday, September 30, 2026 |
| Location | Franklin High School campus, 820 North Avenue 54 |
| Official identification | Not released by police as of the sources I found |
| Investigating agencies | LAPD Northeast Station, Los Angeles School Police, LA County Medical Examiner |
| Cause and manner of death | Not announced |
| Vigil | Thursday, October 1, 2026, 5 p.m., Franklin High School |
| Funeral | Not published as of this writing |
Reader Questions
Who was Xavier Nungaray?
He was a 17-year-old senior at Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park, according to his family. A GoFundMe page describes him as a caring and loving boy.
When did Xavier Nungaray die?
He died on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, after an incident at his school at about 1 p.m.
Has police confirmed his name?
Police had not officially released it in the reports I found. His family identified him to CBS Los Angeles.
What was Xavier Nungaray’s cause of death?
No cause or manner of death has been announced. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner and the LAPD are investigating.
Is there a vigil or funeral for Xavier?
A vigil was planned for Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Franklin High School. I found no published funeral details.
Is Franklin High School open?
Yes. The school reopened on Thursday with mental health professionals on site, according to news reports.
How can I support his family?
A GoFundMe has been shared online, and you should confirm it comes from the family or a reliable news report before giving.
Wrap-Up
The confirmed facts are limited: a Franklin High School senior died on September 30, 2026, his family identified him as Xavier Nungaray, and authorities are investigating. The people who knew him describe someone who was caring and loved, and the school community has held a vigil in his honor.
The investigation will determine what officials can say publicly, and those answers may take time. In the meantime, the kindest approach is to rely on his family’s words, avoid sharing videos or rumors, and support the students and staff who are grieving.
As of October 2, 2026, his death is confirmed by multiple news outlets citing his family, police have not publicly released his name, and the cause and manner of death have not been announced.
Disclaimer
This article is based on news reports reviewed on October 2, 2026. It covers an ongoing investigation, and details may change. Information that has not been confirmed by officials, his family or reliable news outlets is labeled as unknown. This page is not a substitute for professional mental health support.
