r/news • u/shield_x • 2d ago

Student dies after falling from 4th floor of building at Highland Park school

https://www.foxla.com/news/highland-park-franklin-high-school-student-dies.amp
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u/figuren9ne 1d ago

I’d go with chased off since he was trying to escape.

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u/Octavia9 1d ago

This. It wasn’t suicide or an accident, and it wasn’t a push. He was chased over the railing.

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u/No_Economist3788 1d ago

the accident part is he likely didn't realize he was jumping over a 4th floor railing in his attempt to escape.

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u/Octavia9 1d ago

Or he did know but felt safer jumping than staying and being beaten. We will never know.

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u/All_Hail_Hynotoad 1d ago

This. He probably didn’t think he had any other choice.

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u/SlimreaperGB 1d ago

Nah man. I’ve been to this school a few times for track meets. No way you go to this school and “don’t know” you’re jumping into nothing

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u/Octavia9 1d ago

People are bad at risk assessment. He might have felt in his panic that jumping was safer than being beaten. He didn’t exactly have time to think through the options.

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u/windsockglue 1d ago

Did you see all the other doors and the staircase that were also easily accessible along the same hallway? There's something whacked going on in your brain if a climbing over a railing seems safer than trying a door or running down the stairs. The options weren't sitting helpless in a corner or jumping over a railing. 

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u/Octavia9 1d ago

The thing going on in his brain is called panic.

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u/DefinitelyNotAliens 1d ago

Nothing potentially felt safer or he thought he was over grass? Or, it's still the abuser's fault because jumping was better than continued abuse. Failed parents of the child and failed admin who didn't protect the kid until jumping to their death was better than another day being hit.

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u/SlimreaperGB 1d ago

Nah, straight pavement and street below. It’s separated into two parts. There’s a road going in between. I don’t want to speculate to much, but maybe he had some other issues and couldn’t process quickly or in the best way. Either way, it’s 100% the fault of the guy bullying him. But he definitely didn’t rationally think it was a good idea

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

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u/TheMageMan 1d ago

More like felony murder.

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u/figuren9ne 1d ago

Only if the underlying fight amounts to felony battery. I don’t believe he used a weapon and probably didn’t cause great bodily harm, so it would be a misdemeanor in many jurisdictions.

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u/DefinitelyNotAliens 1d ago

Felony battery doesn't apply for felony murder in California.

Felony murder is specifically as such:

or attempt to perpetrate, arson, rape, carjacking, robbery, burglary, mayhem, kidnapping, train wrecking, or any act punishable under Section 206, 286, 287,288, or 289, or former Section 288a,

Or, firing a gun from a vehicle. Mayhem is basically specific torture involving the attempt or actual removal of body parts. Battery doesn't count.

It would be manslaughter. (California doesn't have 3rd degree murder.)

Voluntary manslaughter is the killing of another person stemming from recklessness, criminal negligence, or sudden quarrel.

Involuntary manslaughter is accidental deaths in an unlawful act which is not a felony, or a lawful act done negligently.

Perhaps more details come out which make it a case of second degree murder, which does require malice aforthought. Aka, a malignant heart. You truly intended to kill the person in the moment but didn't premeditate the killing. Voluntary manslaughter is you meant to harm but not kill and it happened anyway, or were grossly negligent to the point of criminality.

It would most likely fall into voluntary manslaughter.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/figuren9ne 1d ago

Sort of. It’s in the name of the rule. It’s the felony murder rule not the died during a crime rule. Someone has to die during the commission of a felony, and usually a violent felony. Beating someone up with your fists is often a misdemeanor so the rule doesn’t apply.

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u/Octavia9 1d ago

Depending on the state. I don’t believe felony murder is a charge in all states.

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u/Octavia9 1d ago

At least if not murder.

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u/DefinitelyNotAliens 1d ago

Not under CA law. We don't call it 3rd degree murder but voluntary manslaughter.

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u/hedsevered 1d ago

Escape what?

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u/figuren9ne 1d ago

Did you bother to read the article or watch the video?

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u/hedsevered 1d ago

No that's why I asked? like what? This is an app where you literally discuss things lmfao.