Reseda 12-Year-Old Khimberly Zavaleta Dies After Alleged Bottle Attack at School, LAPD Investigating

 The mother of 12-year-old Khimberly Zavaleta is speaking out after her daughter died days following a violent confrontation at school, sharing painful new details about what she says led to the tragedy. The incident, which occurred during dismissal at Reseda Charter High School, has shaken families across the San Fernando Valley and sparked renewed concerns about student safety.

According to her mother, Elma Chuquipa, Khimberly stepped in to protect her older sister during an alleged bullying incident in a school hallway. Chuquipa told KABC-TV that a group of students had been targeting her older daughter when Khimberly intervened. A tall boy allegedly pushed the 12-year-old, dismissing her request to take the matter to the principal’s office.

As Khimberly attempted to pull her sister away from the confrontation, someone allegedly threw a metal water bottle that struck her in the head, her mother said. Video circulating online shows students hitting and pulling the girls, though the exact moment the bottle was thrown is not visible. The family maintains that the blow to her head ultimately led to fatal complications.

Initially, doctors believed Khimberly’s condition was stable after she was taken to the emergency room. However, days later, she suffered severe complications and collapsed. Chuquipa said her daughter was rushed back to the hospital without vital signs. Physicians discovered extensive bleeding in her brain, intubated her, and performed emergency surgery to relieve pressure.

Doctors later discussed a potential fourth operation but warned the family there was only a 1% chance of survival. Ultimately, they determined that Khimberly had suffered brain death, according to her mother. The devastating news left her family grappling with unimaginable grief and unanswered questions about how a school altercation could escalate so tragically.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Robbery-Homicide Division is investigating the case as a homicide. Authorities have released limited details, citing the involvement of juveniles. The school district has stated it is cooperating fully with law enforcement and emphasized that student safety remains a top priority.

Chuquipa described her daughter as a joyful child who loved to sing, was learning to cook, and dreamed of becoming a doctor. Friends and classmates have remembered Khimberly as kind-hearted and protective, someone who stood up for those she loved. Vigils and online tributes have reflected the deep sorrow felt throughout the community.

Now, her mother is calling for stronger anti-bullying measures and improved campus security, saying she fears sending her surviving daughter back to school. As investigators work to determine exactly what happened, the loss of Khimberly Zavaleta has ignited urgent conversations about school safety, accountability, and the lasting consequences of violence among youth.