The family of 12-year-old Khimberly Zavaleta Chuquipa is outraged following a ruling by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner that her death was due to natural causes stemming from a pre-existing medical condition — despite her being struck in the head with a metal water bottle during a bullying incident at school.

Khimberly, a student at Reseda Charter High School, was hit in the back of the head with an aluminum water bottle on February 17, 2026, while trying to protect her older sister from alleged bullies. She initially complained of a headache, was taken to the hospital, and later discharged. Four days afterward, she collapsed and was rushed back to UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, where she underwent emergency brain surgery and was placed in a coma. She died on February 25, 2026.

On Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner released its findings, determining the cause of death as a “spontaneously ruptured cerebellar arteriovenous malformation” (AVM) — a rare, congenital tangle of abnormal blood vessels in the brain that can rupture without warning. The manner of death was ruled “natural.”

Khimberly’s family and their attorney maintain that the blunt force trauma from the water bottle triggered the catastrophic brain bleed. “Before this incident, Khimberly was a healthy, vibrant 12-year-old girl with no symptoms, no medical crisis, and no indication that her AVM posed any danger to her life,” said family attorney. “Then she was struck in the head at school… and within days suffered catastrophic brain bleeding that took her life.”

A 12-year-old juvenile was arrested in April in connection with the incident and initially faced homicide-related charges. The case has sparked widespread outrage over school bullying and safety at Reseda Charter High School, with the family filing a wrongful death claim against the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), alleging the school failed to address repeated reports of bullying.

The medical examiner’s ruling has complicated potential criminal charges and fueled further anger from Khimberly’s loved ones, who continue to demand accountability. A GoFundMe has been set up to support the family.