A juvenile has been arrested in the case of a 12-year-old Reseda girl who died after she was hit in the head with a metal water bottle during an alleged bullying incident at Reseda Charter High School, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
The suspect, whose age and gender have not been disclosed, was arrested on suspicion of the murder of 12-year-old Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa, according to a department spokesperson.
Khimberly was injured on campus by another 12-year-old student when she tried to intervene and defend her older sister, Sharon, from bullies on Feb. 17, according to her family. In the ensuing fight, she was struck on the head with a metal water bottle, causing severe injuries.
Khimberly was taken to Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys immediately following the incident, evaluated and then sent home. Three days later, she suffered a “catastrophic medical emergency” and underwent brain surgery at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, family members said.
She was placed in a medically induced coma and died on Feb. 25. The LAPD is investigating the incident as a homicide.
Last month, her family took legal action against the Los Angeles Unified School District, alleging that school officials failed to investigate reports of bullying, adequately supervise student interactions or implement effective safety measures.
In a wrongful-death claim, Khimberly’s mother alleged that the district failed to take action after she reported that both her daughters were repeated victims of bullying on campus. Robert Glassman, an attorney representing the family, said the same group of students had bullied other kids and attacked another female student in the weeks leading up to the water bottle incident.
The district did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. A spokesperson previously said the district does not comment on ongoing litigation.
Times staff writers Stacy Perman and Ruben Vives contributed to this report.
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