Autopsy Rules Natural Causes in Death of 12-Year-Old Reseda Student Following School Fight

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has ruled that 12-year-old Khimberly Zavaleta died of natural causes days after she was involved in a physical altercation at a school in Reseda. According to the medical examiner's report, Zavaleta's death was caused by a spontaneous rupture of blood vessels.

The ruling stands in contrast to claims by Zavaleta's family, who said she suffered a fatal brain injury after being struck in the head with a metal water bottle during the February incident. Her mother, Elma Chuquipa, said the confrontation began when Zavaleta stood up to a group of students who were allegedly bullying her older sister. Chuquipa stated that a boy pushed Zavaleta in a school hallway, and when Zavaleta intervened to pull her sister away from the group, she was struck in the head.

Following the altercation, authorities arrested a minor on suspicion of murder. In the wake of the medical examiner's findings, the family's attorney, Robert Glassman, issued a statement criticizing the report, saying it "ignores the undeniable reality of what happened to Khimberly." Glassman confirmed that the family will continue to pursue a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District.