A devastated mother recounted the tragic incident involving her 12-year-old daughter, Kimberly Zabaleta, who died after a metal bottle struck her during an altercation at Reseda High School in Los Angeles. The attack reportedly occurred while Kimberly was trying to defend her older sister, leading to severe brain injuries.
Kimberly was hospitalized after the incident, which took place last week, and she succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday, according to her mother, Elma Chuquipa.
Elma shared that before the attack, a taller boy confronted her daughter in the school hallway. Despite Kimberly’s attempt to defuse the situation by suggesting they speak to the principal, the boy dismissed her. As Kimberly stepped in to protect her sister, someone allegedly threw a metal bottle, striking her in the head.
Elma reflected on the moment Kimberly intervened: “She was trying to stop her sister from getting hurt, and that’s when she got hit.” Although no footage has been released showing the throw, it seems the incident escalated rapidly.
According to Elma, the altercation involved others who began beating her daughter’s sister. In an emotional moment, she described seeing her daughter with torn clothes and how Kimberly was scared and crying when help arrived. Initially, there was hope for her recovery, but shortly thereafter, Kimberly’s condition worsened.
X-rays revealed critical bleeding, and she was intubated before being transferred to another facility. Doctors informed Elma that surgery was necessary to relieve the pressure in Kimberly’s skull, a moment she recalled with anguish as she pleaded for her daughter’s life.
Ultimately, doctors informed her that further surgical interventions had only a slim chance of success, and they indicated that Kimberly was already brain dead.
Elma expressed the heart-wrenching feelings of leaving her daughter in the hospital, reflecting on the promises Kimberly made to always be there for her. “I kept telling her, ‘You said you wouldn’t leave me,'” she said with visible sorrow.
The tragic incident is being treated as a homicide investigation, but details are limited due to the involvement of a minor. The L.A. Unified School District also issued statements of condolence, while a GoFundMe page has been established to assist with funeral and medical expenses.
