A tragic incident has claimed the life of a 12-year-old girl from Los Angeles, who succumbed to injuries days after being hit in the head with a metal water bottle at school.
Khimberly Zavaleta intervened to defend her sister from alleged bullying when a fellow student struck her with the bottle.
The incident transpired in a hallway at Reseda High School on February 17, according to her family, who reported that the object was thrown by a female classmate.
Following the attack, Khimberly was treated in the emergency room and discharged that day. However, a brain hemorrhage caused her to collapse ten days later.
She was urgently transported to UCLA’s Children’s Hospital, where she was placed in an induced coma and underwent emergency surgery.
Sadly, her life came to a premature end when she suffered heart failure early Thursday morning, as confirmed by her uncle, Guy Gazit, in a heartfelt Facebook post.
The Los Angeles Police Department has since opened a homicide investigation and said no further information will be released because the case involves juveniles.
Authorities have not yet determined whether the initial water bottle incident is directly connected to the hemorrhage that caused her death.
‘God is touching the heart of many people who are coming to ask for justice and to support me. I feel happy that at some point there will be justice,’ her mother, Elma Chuquipa, told KTLA.
Khimberly Zavaleta, 12, was hit by a female classmate who threw the bottle at her inside a hallway at Reseda High School, her family said
She was treated in the emergency room and released the same day, but ten days later she suffered a brain hemorrhage and collapsed
Dayari Diaz, Khimberly’s friend and a student at the school, organized a protest at Reseda High School on Friday with help from her mother.
‘We’re all sad. Because she was the one who gave all the energy to us, because she was so happy. She was always happy. She was always smiling,’ Diaz told NBC Los Angeles.
‘We want justice for her. The school is not doing anything.’
Her family has created a GoFundMe to help pay for her medical bills and funeral expenses, which has since raised nearly $26,000 – just $4,000 shy of the fundraiser’s goal.
‘As the baby of our family, she brought a special light and joy into our lives,’ the description of the fundraiser created by her uncle read.
‘She loved her family, music, volleyball, walks with her two beloved dogs, and had many dreams for the future. Tragically, Khimberly’s life was cut short following a bullying incident at school.’
A spokesperson with the Los Angeles Unified School District issued a statement following the student’s death:
‘The Los Angeles Unified School District is deeply saddened by the death of a Reseda High School student.
‘Our thoughts and condolences are with the student’s family, friends, and the entire school community.
‘Out of respect for the family and to protect confidentiality, we cannot share details.
She was rushed to UCLA’s Children’s hospital where she was put into an induced coma and underwent emergency surgery
Her family has created a GoFundMe to help pay for her medical bills and funeral expenses
‘The District remains committed to providing support to students, staff, and families affected by this loss, including counseling services and additional resources on campus.
‘The District takes the safety and well-being of our students very seriously. We are currently cooperating with law enforcement in connection with this incident.’
A service will be held for Khimberly on March 22.
Reseda High is a charter school that educates students from grades 6-12.
The Daily Mail has reached out to LAPD for comment and Khimberly’s family.
