A 12-year-old child has been taken into custody regarding the tragic death of a young girl who was struck in the head with a metal water bottle in an apparent bullying incident.
The victim, Khimberly Zavaleta, succumbed to injuries sustained from the attack by school bullies, according to her family. Khimberly intervened to defend her sister from bullying in a school hallway and was hit in the head with a bottle during the altercation.
Following the incident on February 17, Khimberly was initially treated at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in California and discharged the same day. However, her condition worsened, leading to her transfer to UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital where she underwent emergency brain surgery to address a hemorrhage.
Tragically, Khimberly passed away on February 25, her uncle revealed that she suffered a stroke due to persistent headaches after the assault.
The Los Angeles Police Officer Charles Miller disclosed that a juvenile was arrested on suspicion of murder. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office is investigating the case and considering charges, as both the victim and the suspect are minors.
Robert Glassman, the family’s attorney, emphasized that while the arrest is a crucial step towards accountability, it does not fully address the issue of how such an incident was allowed to occur. The family is contemplating legal action against Valley Presbyterian Hospital and holding the Los Angeles Unified School District responsible for failing to intervene earlier.
The family had reported ongoing bullying, harassment, and physical attacks on the sisters to school authorities, who allegedly did not take effective action to prevent the abuse, Glassman stated.
The focus, according to Glassman, should not solely be on one student, but also on examining what the responsible adults knew, when they knew it, and why prompt action was not taken.
The Los Angeles Unified School District declined to comment on potential legal proceedings.
To support the family, donations can be made to their GoFundMe page.
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