VILLA RICA, Ga. — A 12-year-old woman was taken to a hospital and died days after she collapsed on the street following a fistfight close to a college bus cease in her Georgia neighborhood, in accordance with police.
The loss of life of sixth grader Jada West is being investigated by police in suburban Villa Rica, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Atlanta.
Sgt. Spencer Crawford, a police spokesman, mentioned Wednesday that investigators are reviewing proof, together with cellphone video of the combat, and are awaiting post-mortem outcomes. He mentioned police plan to satisfy later this week with prosecutors, who will in the end resolve whether or not to carry prices.
The combat between Jada and one other pupil from Mason Creek Center College broke out at an intersection close to the woman’s dwelling on Thursday afternoon, Crawford mentioned.
Cellphone video posted by Jada’s aunt on social media exhibits a college bus leaving the scene greater than 90 seconds earlier than any punches get thrown. The video exhibits Jada and one other woman yelling and taunting one another whereas standing a good way aside. A bunch of classmates stands watching them.
Somebody may be heard saying, “Who’s going to combat you over some noise?”
The video exhibits each ladies placing down their backpacks at roughly the identical time. They strategy one another after which start throwing punches. Inside seconds, they fall to the pavement, clutching one another, with Jada touchdown on her again and rolling backward feet-first over her head and neck.
Each ladies rise up earlier than a lady intervenes, and the grownup may be heard telling Jada to go dwelling. The video exhibits Jada selecting up her backpack and showing to stroll away when the clip ends.
It is unclear what occurred subsequent, however Jada did not make it dwelling. Crawford mentioned police had been dispatched on a name of “a younger juvenile who was in cardiac arrest laying on the street.”
“After we really arrived, paramedics had been on the scene, and so they had been already loading her up and performing CPR,” Crawford mentioned. “Paramedics informed us there was an grownup on the scene performing CPR after they arrived.”
Jada was taken to a hospital. On Sunday, her mom, Rashunda McClendon, posted a video to Fb asking individuals to “please pray for my child. She’s combating for her life.”
Jada’s aunt, De’Quala McClendon, later introduced on Fb on Sunday that her niece had died.
“Now you bought your non secular crown,” she wrote, “it hurts so so unhealthy however I do know you’re okay.”
Rashunda McClendon declined to talk with an Related Press reporter who got here to her dwelling on Wednesday.
A paper signal staked into the bottom close to the scene of the combat mentioned, “RIP JADA WEST,” and bore the message: “Heaven acquire an angel.” A bouquet and a plastic pinwheel had been left beside it.
Douglas County District Legal professional Dalia Racine mentioned in an announcement that her workplace is conscious of the police investigation into Jada’s loss of life however gave no additional remark.
The Douglas County College System, in an announcement, described Jada as “an upbeat, form, and vibrant pupil.” It mentioned counselors had been made obtainable on the faculty to talk with college students and employees.
“This incident didn’t happen on faculty property or throughout faculty hours, and there’s nothing to point that that is associated to any on-campus exercise,” the college district’s assertion mentioned.
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Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia.
