12-year-old dies confronting bullies to protect sister, family reports

A 12-year-old girl in California has died, and another 12-year-old is suspected of ending her life with a metal water bottle during a dispute involving several students, according to the victim's family.

Khimberly Zavaleta passed away in February following a violent bullying episode at Reseda Charter High School on Kittridge Street in the San Fernando Valley, as reported by her family.

Authorities indicate that Khimberly was not the original target of the bullying. On the day it happened, Khimberly defended her older sister from being harassed by several students, and it was then that she was struck on the head with a bottle, according to her family members.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is treating the event as a homicide, they confirmed.

The incident occurred on February 17. After the attack, Khimberly was swiftly taken to a hospital and later discharged, according to a report by City News Service, a Southern California news wire.

On February 19, while playing video games, she faced what her family described in a GoFundMe campaign as "a critical medical crisis."

An uncle later clarified via The New York Times that the young girl suffered a stroke after days of persistent headaches.

"Critical blood vessels in her brain burst, leading to her swift transport to UCLA Children's Hospital, where she was put into an induced coma and underwent urgent, complex brain surgery," the fundraising page states.

Against her family at her side, Khimberly's "heart stopped" around 3:30am on February 20, as mentioned in the online fundraiser.

The police are remaining largely silent about the girl's decease, with the LAPD stating the case is under investigation by the LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division, Valley Bureau Section.

"Given the delicate nature of the investigation and the parties involved being minors, we are unable to disclose any further details regarding the case," the LAPD mentioned in a statement.

The Los Angeles Unified School District released a statement expressing collaboration with the LAPD, stating officials are "profoundly saddened" by Khimberly's passing. 

The statement refrains from offering specific details to maintain "respect for the family and protect confidentiality."