LOS ANGELES (Gray News) – A 12-year-old girl in California died after her family said she was allegedly hit in the head with a water bottle at school.
Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa died in the hospital on Feb. 25 after she was hit in the head with a metal water bottle while trying to protect her sister from alleged bullying at Reseda High School, NBC reported.
Chuquipa’s family said the preteen suffered severe headaches in the days after the fight, but she was sent back home when taken to the emergency room.
Days later, the sixth-grader returned to the hospital after collapsing from a brain hemorrhage, according to a GoFundMe page.
“Major blood vessels in her brain ruptured, and she was rushed to UCLA Children’s Hospital, placed in an induced coma, and underwent complex emergency brain surgery. Her family remained by her side, praying and hoping she would come home, but at 3:30 a.m., her heart gave out,” the fundraising page said.
“She loved her family, music, volleyball, walks with her two beloved dogs, and had many dreams for the future,” the fundraising page added.
The Los Angeles Police Department said the death is being investigated as a homicide.
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