Villa Rica, Georgia– A 12-year-old girl was hospitalized and died days after collapsing in the street following a fist fight near a school bus stop in her Georgia neighborhood, according to police.
Police are investigating the death of sixth-grader Jada West in suburban Villa Rica, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Atlanta.
Sgt. Investigators are reviewing evidence, including cellphone video of the fight, and are awaiting autopsy results, police spokesman Spencer Crawford said Wednesday. He said police plan to meet later this week with prosecutors who will ultimately decide whether to press charges.
The fight between Jada and another student from Mason Creek Middle School broke out at an intersection near the girl’s home Thursday afternoon, Crawford said.
Cellphone video posted on social media by Jada’s aunt shows a school bus leaving the scene more than 90 seconds before any punches are received. The video shows Jada and another girl screaming and mocking each other while standing a good distance away. A group of classmates stand watching them.
Someone can be heard saying: “Who’s going to fight you over some noise?”
The video shows the two girls putting on their backpacks at almost the same time. They get close to each other and then start throwing punches. Within seconds, they’re falling to the pavement, clinging to each other, and Jada lands on her back and rolls back feet first over her head and neck.
The two girls stand up before the woman intervenes, and the adult can be heard telling Jada to go home. The video shows Jada carrying her backpack and appearing to walk away when the clip ends.
It’s not clear what happened next, but Jada did not return home. Police were dispatched to a call from “a young male who was in cardiac arrest lying in the street,” Crawford said.
“When we actually arrived, the paramedics were on scene, and they were already loading her up and performing CPR,” Crawford said. “Paramedics told us there was an adult at the scene performing CPR when they arrived.”
Jada was taken to the hospital. On Sunday, her mother, Rashanda McClendon, posted a video on Facebook asking people to “please pray for my baby. She is fighting for her life.”
Jada’s aunt, Dekoala McLendon, later announced on Facebook on Sunday that her niece had died.
“Now you got your spiritual crown, it hurts so bad but I know you’re okay,” she wrote.
Rashonda McClendon declined to speak with an Associated Press reporter who came to her home on Wednesday.
A paper sign pinned to the ground near the scene of the fight said: “RIP JADA WEST” and carried the message: “Heaven gains an angel.” A bouquet of flowers and a plastic fan remained next to her.
Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine said in a statement that her office was aware of the police investigation into Jada’s death, but she made no further comment.
In a statement, the Douglas County School System described Jada as an “optimistic, kind and energetic student.” She said counselors have been made available at the school to speak with students and staff.
“This incident did not occur on school property or during school hours, and there is no indication that this is related to any activity on campus,” the school district’s statement said.
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Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia.