Shaylee Mejia, 16, died of “blunt head trauma” 10 days after she was attacked in a combat at her highschool
A 16-year-old woman suffered “unintentional” “sequelae of blunt head trauma” and died 10 days after she was in a violent combat at her Los Angeles-based highschool, per the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Tuesday report.
On March 5, Shaylee Mejia was concerned in a combat at Handbook Arts Excessive Faculty. Video footage paperwork Mejia hitting her head towards a toilet stall and falling, per the Los Angeles Times, ABC 7 and KTLA 5.
Her mom Maria Juarez stated that Mejia had complained a couple of headache for a number of days following the assault, KTLA experiences.
4 days later, Mejia fainted at a birthday celebration, and a pal took her to the hospital. By the point her mom arrived, {the teenager} was unconscious and in severe situation after struggling a mind hemorrhage, per the Los Angeles Occasions.
Her mom, 34, was then knowledgeable of the March 5 assault. As Mejia remained within the hospital, she by no means regained consciousness and was declared useless on March 15.
On Tuesday, March 26, L.A. health worker investigator Kristy McCracken and deputy health worker Dr. Emily Lo reported Mejia’s demise was an accident attributable to a earlier harm. There are not any different notes on the report.
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Juarez stated she first realized her daughter had allegedly been bullied at college following a combat on Dec. 13. Juarez advised the Los Angeles Occasions that she discovered her daughter at residence trembling and sweating. After a lot hesitation, Mejia ultimately defined to her mom that she was being bullied for being a brand new pupil at Handbook Arts Excessive Faculty. Because of this, she had gotten right into a combat that December day and was left with bruises throughout her arms and chest.
Juarez then tried to inform directors about what occurred the subsequent day. She stated her considerations had been dismissed, however she stayed on website till a report was filed. She alleged the school did not take motion and comply with up together with her, per the Los Angeles Occasions.
“As a mom, I had full confidence in leaving her on the faculty and figuring out the whole lot could be OK,” Juarez advised the Los Angeles Occasions. “I’m in shock. I’ve one other baby who’s 3 years previous now. How will I ship him to highschool? I’ll simply be pondering that I’m sending my baby to his demise once more.”
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Juarez has obtained lawyer Luis Carrillo, who’s engaged on submitting a lawsuit.
“You may see how her head hits that specific wall,” Carrillo defined to the Los Angeles Occasions, referencing the video footage. “It was grotesque the best way her head hit the wall.
“They don’t defend the children,” stated Carrillo. “I imagine that the failure to guard [Juarez’s] baby is the principle motive why she’s useless proper now. … If that they had taken motion in December, the kid would nonetheless be alive.”
5 days after Mejia’s demise, Principal Alejandro Macias launched a press release providing condolences “to those that are impacted by this loss, together with the coed’s household, pals, and lecturers,” including, “Please know that our total faculty group affords our help,” per KTLA.
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A spokesperson with the Los Angeles Unified Faculty District advised PEOPLE in a press release Wednesday, “I’m saddened to report the current demise of one in every of our college students off campus. On behalf of our total faculty group, I need to provide my deepest condolences to those that are impacted by this loss, together with the coed’s household, pals, and lecturers. Presently, we request that the privateness of those that have been impacted be revered throughout this tough time. Please know that our total faculty group affords our help.”
They added, “Each member of the Handbook Arts Excessive Faculty group issues and this loss impacts us all.”
They went on to say that the varsity has supplied “disaster counselors” and extra “help assets” for college kids, concluding, “Whereas this tragic incident occurred exterior of faculty hours and off campus, our heartfelt ideas stay with these affected by this loss.”
A GoFundMe fundraiser was created to assist Juarez increase cash for funeral bills.
Representatives for Carrillo, Handbook Arts Excessive Faculty, and the L.A. Medical Examiner Workplace didn’t instantly reply to PEOPLE’s request for extra info on Wednesday.
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