A juvenile has been arrested within the case of a 12-year-old Reseda woman who died after she was hit within the head with a steel water bottle throughout an alleged bullying incident at Reseda Constitution Excessive Faculty, in keeping with the Los Angeles Police Division.
The suspect, whose age and gender haven’t been disclosed, was arrested on suspicion of the homicide of Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa, in keeping with a division spokesperson.
Khimberly was injured on campus by one other 12-year-old pupil when she tried to intervene and defend her older sister, Sharon, from bullies on Feb. 17, in keeping with her household. Within the ensuing battle, she was struck on the top with a steel water bottle, inflicting extreme accidents.
Khimberly was taken to Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys instantly after the incident, evaluated after which despatched house. Three days later, she suffered a “catastrophic medical emergency” and underwent mind surgical procedure at UCLA Mattel Kids’s Hospital, members of the family stated.
She was positioned in a medically induced coma and died on Feb. 25. The LAPD is investigating the incident as a murder.
“Because the child of our household, she introduced a particular mild and pleasure into our lives,” her household wrote on a GoFundMe web page established to assist pay for funeral and medical bills. “She beloved her household, music, volleyball, walks along with her two beloved canines, and had many goals for the longer term.”
Final month, her household took authorized motion towards the Los Angeles Unified Faculty District, alleging that faculty officers failed to analyze experiences of bullying, adequately supervise pupil interactions or implement efficient security measures.
At a information convention saying the authorized declare, Khimberly’s mom, Elma Chuquipa Sanchez, stated her daughter had wished to turn out to be a health care provider when she grew up.
“She would at all times inform me that she would deal with me,” Sanchez stated, wiping away tears.
In a wrongful-death declare, Khimberly’s household alleged that the district didn’t take motion after Sanchez reported that each her daughters had been repeated victims of bullying on campus. Robert Glassman, an legal professional representing the household, stated the identical group of scholars had bullied different children and attacked one other feminine pupil within the weeks main as much as the water bottle incident.
The district referred a request for touch upon the arrest to the LAPD on Thursday. A spokesperson beforehand stated the district doesn’t touch upon ongoing litigation.
Instances workers writers Stacy Perman and Ruben Vives contributed to this report.
