Alleged bullying attack leaves 12-year-old girl dead after defending sister, mom says

A 12-year-old Southern California miss has died days aft she was struck successful the caput during what her household says was a bullying incidental astatine school, prompting a homicide probe and renewed concerns astir pupil information and pediatric caput trauma protocols.

Khimberly Zavaleta, a pupil astatine Reseda High School successful Los Angeles, was injured successful a hallway altercation during schoolhouse dismissal, according to her family. They allege different pupil threw a metallic h2o vessel that deed her successful the head.

Khimberly’s mother, Elma Chuquipa, told ABC Los Angeles affiliate KABC that her girl had stepped successful to support her older sister, who she said was being confronted by a radical of students.

"At dismissal time, she was successful the schoolhouse hallway," Chuquipa told the outlet. "A gangly lad came up to her… helium was pushing her, and my girl told him, ‘What’s your occupation with me? Let’s spell to the principal’s bureau and speech astir it.’"

Khimberly Zavaleta is shown successful a infirmary furniture aft suffering a terrible encephalon wounded pursuing an alleged schoolhouse incident. She aboriginal died, according to her family. (GoFundMe)

Chuquipa said her girl tried to propulsion her sister distant from the radical erstwhile the entity was thrown.

"My girl goes and pulls her away, truthful they don’t deed her sister, and that’s erstwhile [Khimberly] gets deed successful the head," she said.

Video of the confrontation was recorded by different students, though Chuquipa said the footage does not intelligibly amusement the infinitesimal the h2o vessel was thrown.

According to the family, Khimberly was initially evaluated astatine a infirmary and released. In the days that followed, her information deteriorated.

"We took her to the exigency room, wherever she arrived with nary vitals," Chuquipa told KABC. "They tore her clothes, they gave her CPR. I was precise scared. I cried a lot. I had this anticipation that she would get up from wherever she was."

Doctors aboriginal discovered terrible bleeding successful her brain, her parent said. Khimberly was intubated and transferred to UCLA Children’s Hospital, wherever she was placed successful a medically induced coma and underwent exigency encephalon surgery.

"The doc said, ‘We’re going to person to execute surgery… it’s a six-hour surgery,’" Chuquipa recalled. "I told the doctor, ‘Save my daughter.’"

At 1 point, physicians discussed an further cognition but warned the household that her chances of endurance were highly slim, according to Chuquipa. Ultimately, doctors determined her encephalon was nary longer functioning.

Khimberly died astir 3:30 a.m., her household said.

MAJOR PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD SIMULATES PARENT ‘TERRORIST’ ATTACK AFTER FATAL ACCIDENT KILLS STUDENT

A household subordinate remains astatine Khimberly Zavaleta’s bedside arsenic she underwent attraction for a traumatic encephalon wounded pursuing an alleged schoolhouse altercation. (GoFundMe)

"As the babe of our family, she brought a peculiar airy and joyousness into our lives," her relatives wrote connected a GoFundMe leafage established successful her honor. They described her arsenic a loving girl who enjoyed music, volleyball and spending clip with her 2 dogs, and who had "many dreams for the future."

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to KABC that its Robbery-Homicide Division is investigating the lawsuit arsenic a homicide but has declined to merchandise further details due to the fact that the incidental involves juveniles.

The Los Angeles Unified School District said it is cooperating with instrumentality enforcement and offering enactment services connected campus.

"The Los Angeles Unified School District is profoundly saddened by the decease of a Reseda High School student. Our thoughts and condolences are with the student’s household and the full schoolhouse community," a Los Angeles Unified spokesperson said successful a connection sent to Fox News Digital. The territory added that it cannot stock further details retired of respect for the household and pupil confidentiality but remains committed to pupil safety.

On Friday, students gathered connected field to protestation and amusement enactment for Khimberly’s family.

"God is touching the bosom of galore radical who are coming to inquire for justness and to enactment me," Chuquipa told KABC. "I consciousness blessed that astatine immoderate constituent determination volition beryllium justice."

TEENAGE CANCER PATIENT'S FINAL FIGHT BECOMES LAW AS HOUSE PASSES LANDMARK PEDIATRIC BILL

Khimberly Zavaleta, a 12-year-old pupil from Reseda, California, who died aft a caput wounded sustained during an alleged schoolhouse incident. (GoFundMe)

In the aftermath of her daughter’s death, Chuquipa said she present fears sending her older kid backmost to school.

"I already mislaid 1 daughter, and I don’t privation to suffer her too," she said.

The household has besides launched a petition urging lawmakers to walk what they are calling "The Khimberly Act," which would found standardized nationalist protocols for evaluating children with caput injuries. The projected authorities calls for clearer imaging requirements, documented neurological monitoring and azygous grooming for aesculapian providers treating pediatric caput trauma.

Citing national wellness information showing that traumatic encephalon injuries are a starring origin of decease and disablement among children, the petition argues that caput injuries whitethorn look insignificant astatine archetypal but tin rapidly crook life-threatening.

"No genitor should ever hear, ‘We didn’t deliberation it was necessary,’" the petition states.

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For Khimberly’s loved ones, the absorption present is some connected accountability and remembrance.

"No parents should ever person to endure the nonaccomplishment of their youngest child," her household wrote.

Fox News Digital reached retired to the LAPD for comment, but did not instantly person a response. 

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].

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