VILLA RICA, Ga. — A 12-year-old woman was taken to a hospital and died days after she collapsed on the street following a fistfight close to a faculty bus cease in her Georgia neighborhood, in response to police.
The loss of life of sixth grader Jada West is being investigated by police in suburban Villa Rica, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Atlanta.
Sgt. Spencer Crawford, a police spokesman, mentioned Wednesday that investigators are reviewing proof, together with cellphone video of the combat, and are awaiting post-mortem outcomes. He mentioned police plan to satisfy later this week with prosecutors, who will finally resolve whether or not to deliver fees.
The combat between Jada and one other pupil from Mason Creek Center Faculty broke out at an intersection close to the woman’s dwelling on Thursday afternoon, Crawford mentioned.
Cellphone video posted by Jada’s aunt on social media reveals a faculty bus leaving the scene greater than 90 seconds earlier than any punches get thrown. The video reveals Jada and one other woman yelling and taunting one another whereas standing a long way aside. A gaggle of classmates stands watching them.
Somebody will be heard saying, “Who’s going to combat you over some noise?”
The video reveals each ladies placing down their backpacks at roughly the identical time. They strategy one another after which start throwing punches. Inside seconds, they fall to the pavement, clutching one another, with Jada touchdown on her again and rolling backward feet-first over her head and neck.
Each ladies get up earlier than a lady intervenes, and the grownup will be heard telling Jada to go dwelling. The video reveals Jada choosing up her backpack and showing to stroll away when the clip ends.
It is unclear what occurred subsequent, however Jada did not make it dwelling. Crawford mentioned police have been dispatched on a name of “a younger juvenile who was in cardiac arrest laying on the street.”
“After we really arrived, paramedics have been on the scene, and so they have been already loading her up and performing CPR,” Crawford mentioned. “Paramedics instructed us there was an grownup on the scene performing CPR once they arrived.”
Jada was taken to a hospital. On Sunday, her mom, Rashunda McClendon, posted a video to Fb asking folks to “please pray for my child. She’s combating for her life.”
Jada’s aunt, De’Quala McClendon, later introduced on Fb on Sunday that her niece had died.
“Now you bought your non secular crown,” she wrote, “it hurts so so dangerous however I do know you’re okay.”
Rashunda McClendon declined to talk with an Related Press reporter who got here to her dwelling on Wednesday.
A paper signal staked into the bottom close to the scene of the combat mentioned, “RIP JADA WEST,” and bore the message: “Heaven acquire an angel.” A bouquet and a plastic pinwheel have been left beside it.
Douglas County District Lawyer Dalia Racine mentioned in an announcement that her workplace is conscious of the police investigation into Jada’s loss of life however gave no additional remark.
The Douglas County Faculty System, in an announcement, described Jada as “an upbeat, sort, and vibrant pupil.” It mentioned counselors have been made accessible on the college to talk with college students and workers.
“This incident didn’t happen on college property or throughout college hours, and there’s nothing to point that that is associated to any on-campus exercise,” the college district’s assertion mentioned.
___
Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia.
