The parents of a 12-year-old girl who died after a violent bullying incident at school have launched a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District, claiming officials failed to protect their daughter despite repeated warnings about harassment. The girl, Khimberly Zavaleta, suffered a traumatic brain injury after being struck in the head with a metal water bottle during an altercation in a school hallway on February 17, 2026. According to the family’s attorney, the confrontation began when Khimberly attempted to help her sister, who was being attacked by a group of students. What started as a moment of intervention quickly escalated into a devastating event that left the young girl critically injured and would ultimately lead to her death less than a week later.

Attorney Robert Glassman, who represents the Zavaleta family, said the incident unfolded during a chaotic confrontation involving several students. Witness accounts indicate that Khimberly stepped in to defend her sister Sharon after she was surrounded by classmates allegedly involved in bullying. During the altercation, one student reportedly struck Khimberly in the head with a heavy metal water bottle. The force of the blow caused severe trauma. Khimberly was taken for medical treatment after the incident, but doctors later determined that she had suffered a traumatic brain injury along with internal bleeding in the brain. Despite efforts by medical staff to stabilize her condition, the injury proved fatal. Khimberly died on February 25, only eight days after the attack that changed the lives of her family forever.

The family’s lawsuit alleges that the school district failed to respond appropriately to earlier reports of bullying that involved Khimberly and her sister. According to the legal complaint, the girls had been targeted by the same group of students in the weeks leading up to the fatal incident. Their parents say they contacted school officials multiple times to report harassment and intimidation but claim that administrators did not take adequate action to investigate the situation or prevent further confrontations. The lawsuit argues that the school failed to properly supervise student interactions and did not implement effective safety measures that could have prevented the escalation of violence.

Glassman said the legal action seeks accountability from the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second-largest school system in the United States. The lawsuit accuses the district of negligence and wrongful death, asserting that school officials had a responsibility to maintain a safe environment for students under their care. According to the attorney, the family believes the tragedy could have been avoided if earlier complaints had been taken seriously and appropriate intervention had been implemented. The case raises broader questions about how school systems respond to bullying reports and whether current policies are sufficient to protect students from escalating violence.

Investigators are also reviewing digital evidence connected to the incident, including video recordings that allegedly captured the attack. According to Glassman, footage of the confrontation was recorded and later circulated on social media among students. The video was reportedly posted online with the caption “Happy Tuesday,” a detail that has sparked outrage among community members and intensified calls for accountability. While authorities have not publicly released the footage, the existence of a recording has become a significant element of the investigation and may play a role in determining how the incident unfolded.

The legal team representing the Zavaleta family is also examining the medical treatment Khimberly received after the attack. Glassman said attorneys are reviewing whether the young girl was properly evaluated during her initial hospitalization and whether additional medical intervention might have altered the outcome. Although the central focus of the lawsuit is the school district’s alleged failure to address bullying, the legal team says it is investigating every aspect of the case to determine whether other factors contributed to the tragedy. The review includes medical records and the timeline of care following the injury.

For Khimberly’s parents, the loss has left an immeasurable void. Her mother, Elma Chuquipa Sánchez, described her daughter as a kind and compassionate child who had dreams of becoming a doctor one day. The family says Khimberly often talked about helping others and taking care of her loved ones in the future. Fighting back tears, Sánchez recalled how her daughter would tell her that one day she would grow up and make sure her mother was always cared for. Now, instead of watching those dreams unfold, the family is preparing for a legal battle while mourning a child they say simply tried to protect her sister.

Authorities from the Los Angeles Police Department have confirmed that the case is being investigated as a homicide. Officials have not announced whether criminal charges will be filed, and the investigation remains ongoing. The incident has renewed public attention on the issue of bullying in schools and the responsibility of administrators to respond when students report threats or harassment. As the legal process begins, Khimberly’s family says they hope their daughter’s story will bring awareness to the dangers of unchecked bullying and help prevent other families from experiencing a similar tragedy.