Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa, a 12-year-old student at Reseda Charter High School, died days after being hit in the head by a metal water bottle during an alleged bullying incident.

Despite initial reports linking the injury to her hospitalization and subsequent death, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was natural, specifically a spontaneous rupture of blood vessels caused by a congenital cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM).This rare condition involves fragile, tangled arteries in the brain that can rupture suddenly and catastrophically.

Khimberly’s family disputes the ruling, arguing that she was a healthy, vibrant child prior to the incident and that the injury contributed to her fatal brain bleed.The family has also filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District, claiming repeated failures to address bullying on campus.

Previously, a juvenile suspect had been arrested on suspicion of murder, though the medical examiner’s report does not link the water bottle incident to her death.The case has drawn comparisons to a 2024 incident involving another LAUSD student, highlighting concerns over bullying and school accountability.Authorities continue to investigate, while the school district has expressed condolences but declined to comment on the pending litigation.