A body camera recording made available by the police department in Oklahoma provides a more comprehensive account of an incident at Owasso High School involving a teenager identified as Nex Benedict, who sadly passed away following a reported altercation. The authorities released the footage on February 7, 2023, shedding light on the events leading up to Nex’s demise.
Nex Benedict, reportedly identifying as nonbinary, was involved in a physical fight at the high school on February 6, 2023. According to their family and friends, Nex informed them about the incident the following day when they fell ill. However, it remains unclear whether the altercation had any direct connection to Nex’s untimely death.
An initial autopsy report on February 8 did not indicate that Nex died due to traumatic injuries, as stated by the police. Authorities added that toxicology results and further investigations were necessary to determine the exact cause of death.
The body camera footage from the police officer’s interaction with Nex and their guardian, Sue Benedict, at a hospital following the incident, offered additional context. Nex shared that they didn’t know the girls involved in the fight and had ignored their previous mocking comments about how they dressed. Sue Benedict had previously advised Nex to disregard the three girls.
On the day of the altercation, Nex recounted that they were in the bathroom with their friends when one group made derogatory comments about them. In response, Nex poured water from their bottle on the other girls, which escalated the situation, leading to a physical altercation.
The officer in the footage advised Nex and Sue Benedict that throwing liquid could be perceived as assault, potentially initiating the violence. Despite this warning, no charges were pursued, with all students leaving to report to the assistant principal’s office and the nurse’s office.
The police also released surveillance footage showing a group of students moving from the cafeteria towards the restroom, where Nex was involved in the incident. Another Website video integration depicted Nex being escorted by the school’s Website security officer to the nurse’s office and then to the principal’s office, before leaving the school with their guardian.
The 911 calls released revealed that Benedict (Nex’s guardian) requested an officer to meet them at the hospital on the day of the incident. The second call was made the following day when Benedict reported that Nex was experiencing a medical emergency, with their condition being described as critical.
Owasso Public Schools confirmed that a physical altercation had taken place in a restroom, which was broken up by other students and staff. The school district could not disclose the specific disciplinary measures against any student due to federal privacy laws. A GoFundMe page has been established for Nex and their family during this challenging time.
In a statement, the Benedict family expressed concern about the investigation’s progress and urged those involved to pursue justice thoroughly. They also shared their personal experiences with bullying and school violence, emphasizing the need for meaningful change in addressing such incidents.
Nex’s passing occurred amidst a wave of criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates towards Oklahoma officials due to perceived actions targeting the LGBTQ+ community. In 2022, the state legislature passed a bill requiring all pre-K–12 schools to mandate students use restrooms and locker rooms based on their sex as designated at birth. The previous year, Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order mandating government agencies to define people exclusively by ‘male’ and ‘female’ genders.
Nationwide, at least 510 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in state legislatures last year, marking a record according to American Civil Liberties Union data.
