A distressing video has emerged revealing the chaotic altercation that led to the tragic death of a 12-year-old girl who was allegedly struck in the head with a metal water bottle while defending her younger sister from bullies at Reseda Charter High School.
In the footage recently obtained by local media, a group of students can be seen arguing and pushing in a hallway just moments before the violent incident that resulted in sixth-grader Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa sustaining a fatal head injury.
Chuquipa intervened to protect her sister during the altercation on February 17, as tensions escalated among multiple students, as confirmed by the girl’s family and attorneys.
The fatal blow occurred when another student reportedly threw a metal water bottle that hit the 12-year-old in the head. Initially, the injury did not appear severe, and Chuquipa was taken to a hospital for evaluation and later discharged, according to her relatives.
However, a few days later, she collapsed at home and was rushed back to the hospital, where doctors discovered a critical brain hemorrhage that ultimately led to her passing.
The tragic incident has prompted a homicide investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. The newly surfaced video has become a key piece of evidence in a legal claim filed by the family against the Los Angeles Unified School District, alleging negligence in addressing ongoing bullying issues before the fatal event.
Attorney Robert Glassman of Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP emphasized that the video highlights a hazardous environment that school administrators failed to address effectively.
The family contends that school officials were aware of bullying problems involving students linked to the incident but did not take sufficient action. Chuquipa’s grieving parents described her as a compassionate child who enjoyed singing and dancing and often defended others, a quality that unfortunately led to her tragic fate that day.
The heartbreaking case has deeply affected the San Fernando Valley community, where classmates and neighbors have set up impromptu memorials near the school with flowers, candles, and heartfelt notes.
The student suspected of throwing the bottle has not been publicly identified by the police as the investigation progresses. The family is resolute in seeking answers and accountability for the loss of their child, who they say was simply trying to shield her younger sister.
An LAUSD spokesperson declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.
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