12-Year-Old Girl Dies After Alleged Bullying Attack at LA School

Suspect, also 12 years old, arrested on suspicion of murder

Apr. 4, 2026 at 1:08pm

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A 12-year-old girl has died after being struck in the head with a metal water bottle during an alleged bullying incident at a Los Angeles school. The suspect, a 12-year-old classmate, has been arrested on suspicion of murder. The victim's family has filed a wrongful-death claim against the Los Angeles Unified School District, alleging the school failed to intervene despite previous reports of bullying.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing issue of bullying in schools and the need for more effective intervention and prevention measures. The case also raises questions about how schools handle incidents of violence between students and their responsibility to protect vulnerable children.

The details

According to authorities, the 12-year-old victim, Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa, was struck in the head with a metal water bottle on February 17 while trying to help her older sister, Sharon Zavaleta, who was being bullied by a group of students. Khimberly was initially treated and released from a local hospital, but her condition worsened, and she was later placed in an induced coma at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, where she underwent emergency brain surgery. She died on February 25.

  • The incident occurred on February 17, 2026.
  • Khimberly was initially treated and released from Valley Presbyterian Hospital on the same day.
  • Three days later, on February 20, Khimberly was taken to UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital.
  • Khimberly died on February 25, 2026.

The players

Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa

A 12-year-old student who died after being struck in the head with a metal water bottle during an alleged bullying incident at her school.

Sharon Zavaleta

Khimberly's older sister, who was being bullied by a group of students when the incident occurred.

Los Angeles Unified School District

The school district that the family has filed a wrongful-death claim against, alleging a failure to intervene despite previous reports of bullying.

Robert Glassman

The family's attorney, who stated that the arrest is an important step but does not equal justice and that the focus should be on holding the school district accountable for its failure to intervene.

12-year-old suspect

The juvenile arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with Khimberly's death.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Robert Glassman, Family attorney

“The focus cannot stop with one student — there must be a hard look at what the adults in charge knew, when they knew it, and why meaningful action wasn't taken sooner.”

— Robert Glassman, Family attorney

What’s next

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office will be responsible for filing charges against the 12-year-old suspect. The family's attorney has stated that they have not ruled out taking legal action against Valley Presbyterian Hospital as well.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for schools to have robust anti-bullying policies, effective intervention strategies, and a culture of accountability to protect vulnerable students. The failure to address the reported bullying prior to the fatal attack raises serious questions about the school district's responsibility in preventing such tragedies.