By Gray News staff
Published: Feb. 20, 2024 at 1:44 AM EST|Updated: Feb. 20, 2024 at 12:02 PM EST
Editor’s note: Due to conflicting reports of the teen’s gender identity, gendered terms were removed except in direct quotations from family and friends. The teen’s first name after a clarification from the student’s mother.
OWASSO, Okla. (Gray News) - Police in Oklahoma are investigating the death of a 16-year-old high school student who was involved in a fight at school.
The student, Nex Benedict, died at the hospital on Feb. 8, the day after a fight in a bathroom at Owasso High School, authorities said.
Police said they are working to learn exactly what happened to the 16-year-old.
Officers said they were called to the hospital by Benedict’s parent around 3 p.m. on Feb. 7, where the parent told officers the 16-year-old was involved in a fight at school.
Police said no fight was reported to them before the teen’s parent told them.
According to a statement from the school district, the school has “cooperated fully” with the investigation.
The school said misinformation surrounding the case has been spread in recent days, but they confirmed an altercation happened on school grounds Feb. 7 and a student died the next day.
The school said the students involved in the fight were inside the restroom for “less than two minutes” and the fight was broken up by other students who were in the bathroom at the time. A staff member was also involved in breaking up the fight, according to the school.
All students involved in the fight went to the principal’s office and nurse’s office.
The school’s statement said that all students involved in the altercation were assessed by the school nurse, and it was determined that an ambulance was not needed.
“Out of an abundance of caution, it was recommended to one parent that their student visit a medical facility for further examination,” the school said.
It’s unclear why it was determined that an ambulance wasn’t needed, and it’s also unclear if Benedict was the student who was recommended to visit a medical facility.
The school said parents of students involved in the fight were given the option to file a police report.
For privacy reasons, the school is not stating what consequences students involved in the fight will be facing at school.
However, the school said, in part, “Any notion that the district has ignored disciplinary action toward those involved is simply untrue.”
The school finished their statement by saying:
“The loss of a student, a member of the Ram Family and the Owasso community, is 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. If there is ever a concern about student safety or well-being, please reach out to a teacher, counselor or principal at your child’s school. As we continue to mourn the loss of this student, our hearts go out to their family and they will continue to be in our prayers. We are here to support them and everyone who has been affected by this situation.”
Benedict’s funeral was held Thursday. The Bikers Against Child Abuse motorcycle club led everyone to the teen’s final resting place, Ridge Lawn Cemetery in Collinsville.
Benedict’s mother, Sue Benedict, described her child as a straight-A student and an animal lover who loved to cook, often making up new recipes.
“She was tough but a great kid,” Sue Benedict said at the funeral service.
The teen’s friend, Alexandria Davidson, said her friend was fun to be around and lovable to everybody.
“At first, I didn’t feel anything. I couldn’t. What am I supposed to feel at that point? Knowing that someone that I could have used to know, someone I used to walk in the halls with, someone I could have been to class with is no longer a part of our lives, no longer part of the community. It’s a community that I love, and now she’s gone,” Davidson said.
Police said they don’t know if the fight was the cause of Benedict’s death or if a separate medical issue was at play.
Officers are waiting for medical reports and an autopsy before releasing more information.
Detectives said they are also interviewing witnesses as they determine if any criminal charges will be filed.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family pay for the funeral.
Copyright 2024 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. KJRH via CNN Newsource contributed to this report.
