12-year-old girl died of natural causes after fight at Reseda school, medical examiner says

RESEDA, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A 12-year-old girl who passed away days after being involved in a school fight in Reseda died from natural causes, the Los Angeles County medical examiner ruled.

Khimberly Zavaleta died days after her family said she suffered a brain injury from being hit in the head by a metal water bottle in February.

Mother of 12-year-old details school fight in Reseda that left daughter dead

The mother of a 12-year-old girl who died several days after an altercation at a school in Reseda is speaking out as authorities investigate the incident.

The medical examiner's report found that Khimberly died from a spontaneous rupture of blood vessels.

In a statement, the family's lawyer said the report "ignores the undeniable reality of what happened to Khimberly."

Attorney Robert Glassman added that the family will continue to pursue a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Unified School District.

In early March, the girl's mother, Elma Chuquipa, told Eyewitness News that on the day of the incident, Khimberly was standing up to a group of students who were allegedly bullying her older sister.

"At dismissal time, she was in the school hallway when a tall boy came up to her ... he was pushing her, and my daughter told him, 'What's your problem with me? Let's go to the principal's office and talk about it' -but he ignored her," said Chuquipa.

The mother said that when Khimberly stepped in to defend her sister, someone allegedly threw a water bottle at her.

"My daughter goes and pulls her away, so they don't hit her sister, and that's when (Khimberly) gets hit in the head."

In April, another minor was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection to Zavaleta's death.