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VILLA RICA, Ga. — The family of a 12-year-old girl who died after a fight at a school bus stop in Georgia earlier this month is demanding a transparent investigation.
Attorneys for Jada West’s family claim there were “reports of bullying” prior to the fight in suburban Villa Rica, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Atlanta.
Video of the fight has gone viral on social media, sparking a national outcry for answers. The sixth grader’s family is searching for accountability and wants to know if the bus driver could have stopped this.
Jada’s parents were at Monday’s news conference but did not speak publicly.
Jada was taken to a hospital and died days after she collapsed in the street following the fistfight, which happened in her neighborhood, according to police.
Sgt. Spencer Crawford, a police spokesman, said Wednesday, March 11 that investigators are reviewing evidence, including cellphone video of the fight, and are awaiting autopsy results. He said police planned to meet later that week with prosecutors, who will ultimately decide whether to bring charges.
The fight between Jada and another student from Mason Creek Middle School broke out at an intersection near the girl’s home on the afternoon of Thursday, March 5, Crawford said.
Cellphone video posted by Jada’s aunt on social media shows a school bus leaving the scene more than 90 seconds before any punches get thrown. The video shows Jada and another girl yelling and taunting each other while standing a good distance apart. A group of classmates stands watching them.
Someone can be heard saying, “Who is going to fight you over some noise?”
The video shows both girls putting down their backpacks at roughly the same time. They approach each other and then begin throwing punches. Within seconds, they fall to the pavement, clutching each other, with Jada landing on her back and rolling backward feet-first over her head and neck.
Both girls stand up before a woman intervenes, and the adult can be heard telling Jada to go home. The video shows Jada picking up her backpack and appearing to walk away when the clip ends.
It’s unclear what happened next, but Jada didn’t make it home. Crawford said police were dispatched on a call of “a young juvenile who was in cardiac arrest laying in the street.”
“When we actually arrived, paramedics were on the scene, and they were already loading her up and performing CPR,” Crawford said. “Paramedics told us there was an adult on the scene performing CPR when they arrived.”
Jada was taken to a hospital. On Sunday, March 8, her mother, Rashunda McClendon, posted a video to Facebook asking people to “please pray for my baby. She’s fighting for her life.”
Jada’s aunt, De’Quala McClendon, later announced on Facebook on Sunday that her niece had died.
“Now you got your spiritual crown,” she wrote, “it hurts so so bad but I know you are ok.”
Rashunda McClendon declined to speak with an Associated Press reporter who came to her home on Wednesday, March 11.
A paper sign staked into the ground near the scene of the fight said, “RIP JADA WEST,” and bore the message: “Heaven gain an angel.” A bouquet and a plastic pinwheel were left beside it.
Douglas County District Attorney Dalia Racine said in a statement that her office is aware of the police investigation into Jada’s death but gave no further comment.
The Douglas County School System, in a statement, described Jada as “an upbeat, kind, and vibrant student.” It said counselors were 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 nothing to indicate that this is related to any on-campus activity,” the school district’s statement said.
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Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia.
7 Chicago contributed to this report.
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