A 12-year-old girl from Reseda in Los Angeles has died days after her family says she was struck in the head by a metal water bottle thrown at her by a school bully.
Her family said Khimberly later suffered a brain hemorrhage and never returned home. The fundraiser states that major blood vessels in her brain ruptured, leading to a catastrophic medical emergency.
Relatives said Khimberly was rushed to UCLA Children’s Hospital, where she was placed in an induced coma and underwent complex emergency brain surgery. Her family kept vigil at her bedside, praying she would recover, but her heart failed at about 3:30 a.m. on Feb. 25 “She was only twelve,” the family wrote.
More than $90,000 of a $140,000 goal has been raised to help cover medical expenses, funeral, and burial costs.
Gazit said she had been lying in the hospital in an induced coma, undergoing numerous procedures including “a highly complicated brain surgery,” before her heart failed.
“I woke up with a start at 3:33 AM this morning,” he wrote, adding that his wife had still been at the hospital with Khimberly’s parents when the girl died. “Rest in peace, our precious Khimberly. May your memory be of blessing. We are grateful for the honor of having you in our lives.”
The Los Angeles Police Department has opened a homicide investigation into the case, the department confirmed to local news sources.
Students at Reseda High School held a protest on campus on Friday in support of Khimberly.
“We’re all sad. Because she was the one who gave all the energy to us, because she was so happy. She was always happy. She was always smiling,” said her friend Dayari Diaz, who helped organize the demonstration with her mother.
“We want justice for her,” Dayari said. “The school is not doing anything.”
In a statement to local news sources, the Los Angeles Unified School District said it was “deeply saddened by the death of a Reseda High School student” and could not share further details because of confidentiality rules.
“The District takes the safety and well-being of our students very seriously. We are currently cooperating with law enforcement in connection with this incident,” officials said.
The GoFundMe page says donations will additionally go toward allowing her parents and siblings time and space to grieve. “Every donation matters and sends a message: Her life mattered and Bullying must be stopped,” the family wrote. They described her as the baby of the family, a girl who “brought a special light and joy into our lives,” loved her family, music, volleyball, and walks with her two dogs, and “had many dreams for the future.”
NTD News has contacted the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Unified School District seeking additional details.