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 College, in accordance 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 accordance with a division spokesperson.
Khimberly was injured on campus by one other 12-year-old scholar when she tried to intervene and defend her older sister, Sharon, from bullies on Feb. 17, in accordance with her household. Within the ensuing combat, she was struck on the pinnacle 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 residence. Three days later, she suffered a “catastrophic medical emergency” and underwent mind surgical procedure at UCLA Mattel Youngsters’s Hospital, members of the family mentioned.
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 gentle and pleasure into our lives,” her household wrote on a GoFundMe web page established to assist pay for funeral and medical bills. “She cherished her household, music, volleyball, walks together with her two beloved canine, and had many desires for the long run.”
Final month, her household took authorized motion in opposition to the Los Angeles Unified College District, alleging that college officers failed to research experiences of bullying, adequately supervise scholar interactions or implement efficient security measures.
At a information convention saying the authorized declare, Khimberly’s mom, Elma Chuquipa Sanchez, mentioned her daughter had wished to grow to be a physician when she grew up.
“She would all the time inform me that she would care for me,” Sanchez mentioned, 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 have been repeated victims of bullying on campus. Robert Glassman, an legal professional representing the household, mentioned the identical group of scholars had bullied different youngsters and attacked one other feminine scholar 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 mentioned the district doesn’t touch upon ongoing litigation.
Instances employees writers Stacy Perman and Ruben Vives contributed to this report.
