12-Year-Old Charged in Classmate’s Death Caused by Metal Water Bottle in LA
Family of Deceased 12-Year-Old Plans Legal Action Against LAUSD Following Bullying Incident
The family of Khimberly Zavaletta Chuquipa, a 12-year-old who died after a bullying incident, has announced plans to sue the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) for wrongful death. This legal action follows her tragic death on February 25, when she was struck in the head with a metal water bottle during an altercation at Reseda Charter High School.
Authorities arrested a 12-year-old male suspect on Thursday, believed to be involved in the incident. The school and its administration are now under scrutiny as the family asserts that LAUSD officials ignored multiple warnings regarding the ongoing physical abuse and harassment Khimberly faced.
The confrontation occurred on February 17, in a hallway at the high school. According to the family’s wrongful-death claim, Khimberly sustained her fatal injury while trying to defend her older sister from a group of bullies. Following an initial hospital visit, she was later rushed to UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital for emergency surgery to address a brain hemorrhage. Despite efforts to save her, she was placed in an induced coma and passed away a week later.
Robert Glassman, the family’s attorney, expressed that while the arrest is a significant step, it does not resolve the broader issue of accountability. "This arrest is an important step toward accountability, but an arrest alone does not equal justice and does not answer the larger question of how this was allowed to happen in the first place," he stated. Glassman underscored that prior incidents had been reported to school officials without appropriate action taken.
As the LAPD and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office continue their investigation, the identity and gender of the arrested student remain confidential due to their age. While formal charges are pending, it remains uncertain whether the family will seek additional legal action against the medical facility that initially released Khimberly after her injury.
An LAUSD spokesperson has indicated that the district will not comment on ongoing litigation, but the family’s wrongful-death claim against the district is actively progressing as this tragic case continues to unfold.
