Juvenile Arrested in Death of 12-Year-Old in School Bullying Case

A juvenile was arrested Thursday on suspicion of murder in the death of 12-year-old Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa, who suffered fatal injuries after being struck in the head with a metal water bottle during an alleged bullying incident at Reseda Charter High School in Los Angeles.

The incident occurred on February 17, when Khimberly intervened to defend her older sister, Sharon, from a group of bullies on campus, according to family members and Los Angeles Police Department statements. During the altercation, another 12-year-old student hit Khimberly with the water bottle, causing severe head trauma. She was taken to Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys for evaluation and released the same day. Three days later, Khimberly suffered a catastrophic brain hemorrhage at home, leading to emergency surgery at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. Doctors placed her in a medically induced coma, but she died on February 25.

The LAPD has classified the case as a homicide and confirmed the arrest of the unidentified juvenile suspect, whose age and gender were not disclosed. Video footage of the confrontation, showing students pushing and arguing moments before the strike, has been obtained by...