Mother Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit After Daughter's Bullying Tragedy
The heartbroken mother of a 12-year-old girl who died after being struck in the head with a metal water bottle during a bullying incident says her repeated warnings to school officials about ongoing harassment were completely ignored. Elma Chuquipa Sanchez lost her daughter, Khimberly Zavaleta, in February after a bully allegedly hit her with a metal water bottle during an altercation at Reseda Charter High School.
A Preventable Tragedy
Zavaleta had initially visited the emergency room following the attack and was released the same day. However, ten days later, she suddenly collapsed after suffering a catastrophic brain hemorrhage. The young girl was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma before tragically succumbing to heart failure during emergency surgery.
'The school has a lot to answer for, because they did nothing,' Sanchez told the Los Angeles Times. 'Every single day, I would head to the school and I was there making a fuss about ongoing bullying. But it was all for nothing. Now, my baby is gone.'
Defending Her Sister
The tragic incident occurred on February 17 when Zavaleta stepped in to defend her older sister, Sharon, from a group of bullies who had been harassing her. Sharon expressed profound guilt about the situation, telling reporters: 'I blame myself. If she hadn't gotten involved, she'd be here with me.'
On Monday, Zavaleta's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District, alleging that school administrators failed to take appropriate action despite repeated reports of bullying over more than a year.
Legal Action and Accountability
Attorney Glassman, representing the family, stated: 'LA Unified has a legal duty to protect the students entrusted to them. When repeated warnings of bullying are brushed aside, like what happened here, that duty is broken - and the results can be devastating. This lawsuit seeks accountability and meaningful change so it doesn't happen again.'
Sanchez revealed that the bullying had been occurring for over a year and that she had complained so frequently to school officials that they knew her by name. She also disclosed that approximately six weeks before her daughter was attacked, there was video evidence circulating of the same group of bullies assaulting another female student.
A Bright Future Cut Short
Zavaleta's family described her as a vibrant young girl with dreams of becoming a doctor. She loved swimming, riding her bike, playing volleyball and basketball, singing, and drawing. Her father, Jesus Alfredo Zavaleta Tafur, remembered her fondly: 'She was a very lovely girl, very kind and very much loved by everyone. It is such a beautiful thing to have been her father.'
Since Zavaleta's death, Sanchez said other parents have come forward with similar stories of harassment occurring on school grounds, suggesting this was not an isolated incident.
School District Response
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Unified School District stated: 'Los Angeles Unified does not comment on pending or ongoing litigation.' In a separate statement, the district expressed: 'The Los Angeles Unified School District is deeply saddened by the death of a Reseda High School student. Our thoughts and condolences are with the student's family, friends, and the entire school community.'
The district added that they are cooperating with law enforcement and providing counseling services to affected students and staff.
Community Outpouring and Investigation
A vigil was held outside the school organized by Zavaleta's friend Dayari Diaz, who told reporters: 'We're all sad because she was the one who gave all the energy to us, because she was so happy. She was always smiling.' Diaz also claimed the school was 'not doing anything' and called for justice for her friend.
In April, another twelve-year-old was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department in connection with the incident. The investigation into Zavaleta's death remains ongoing, and no charges have been filed yet, according to the LA County district attorney's office.
Sanchez expressed hope that the litigation will force the school district to take serious action against bullying: 'They waited until my daughter died to finally take action. It wasn't fair that the bullies continued going to school and my daughters suffered. One had to change schools and we buried the other.'
A GoFundMe page established to cover medical and funeral expenses described Zavaleta as 'the baby of our family' who 'brought a special light and joy into our lives.' The page detailed how she loved her family, music, volleyball, walks with her two beloved dogs, and had many dreams for the future.
