VILLA RICA, Georgia: A 12-year-old girl died days after being taken to a hospital following a fistfight at a bus stop in her Georgia neighborhood.
Police in Villa Rica, a suburb about 30 miles west of Atlanta, are investigating the death of sixth-grade student Jada West.
Police spokesman Spencer Crawford said on March 11 that investigators are examining evidence, including cellphone video of the fight. They are also waiting for the autopsy results. Police will meet with prosecutors later this week, who will decide if any charges should be filed.
Crawford said the fight happened last week at an intersection near Jada's home. It involved Jada and another student from Mason Creek Middle School.
A cellphone video shared online by Jada's aunt shows a school bus leaving the area more than 90 seconds before the fight begins. In the video, Jada and another girl are standing some distance apart, shouting and teasing each other while several classmates watch.
Someone in the video can be heard asking, "Who is going to fight you over some noise?"
The video shows both girls putting down their backpacks at about the same time. They walk toward each other and start throwing punches. Within seconds, they fall to the ground, holding on to each other. Jada falls on her back and rolls backward over her head and neck.
Both girls get up before a woman steps in to stop the fight. The woman tells Jada to go home. The video then shows Jada picking up her backpack and walking away before the clip ends.
What happened next is not clear, but Jada never made it home. Crawford said police received a call about "a young juvenile in cardiac arrest lying in the street."
Jada was taken to a hospital. On March 8, her mother, Rashunda McClendon, posted a message on Facebook asking people to pray for her daughter, saying she was fighting for her life.
Later that day, Jada's aunt, De'Quala McClendon, announced on Facebook that Jada had died. She wrote that it hurt deeply, but said she believed her niece was now at peace.
Near the place where the fight happened, someone placed a sign in the ground that said "RIP JADA WEST" and "Heaven gained an angel." Flowers and a small plastic pinwheel were also left there.
Dalia Racine, the district attorney for Douglas County, said her office is aware of the investigation but did not provide further details.
The Douglas County School System said Jada was "an upbeat, kind, and lively student." The school district said counselors were available to support students and staff.
Officials also said the fight did not occur on school grounds or during school hours, and there is no indication it was connected to any activity at the school.
