A devastated mother says her 16-year-old daughter died after being badly beaten by bullies at her California high school.
Shaylee Mejia, 16, collapsed just days after being attacked in the bathroom at Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles.
Video of the March 5 incident shows the teen having her hair pulled and hitting her head on a stall before falling. Many punches are exchanged by the girls involved in the fights throughout the brawl.
Mejia’s mother, Maria Juarez, said her daughter complained of headaches for several days but continued to go to school before going to a party the following Saturday evening, according to KTLA.
Mejia suffered a hemorrhage from brain damage and collapsed during the party. She was rushed to hospital but never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on March 15.
“Everyone knows my daughter hit her head, so do the teachers,” Juarez said. ‘Everyone knows.’
Shaylee Mejia, 16, suffered a hemorrhage due to brain damage. She was rushed to hospital but never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on March 15. His mother, Maria Juarez, says the injuries were the result of beatings she received at her California high school.
Mejia didn’t tell her mother about the argument because she didn’t want her to worry or miss work.
The incident was filmed by other students and shows the girl being badly beaten while others stood and watched.
Mejia said her daughter suffered headaches in the days after the horrific attack, but still went to school.
But she later passed out at the party and a friend said she fell and stopped talking, Juarez said.
The teenager was taken to hospital and heartbreaking photos show her lying in a hospital bed on a ventilator.
She died six days later, on March 15, and her mother believes her daughter died from serious injuries she suffered during the bathroom fight.
Mejia’s official cause of death has not been determined and an investigation is ongoing.
Los Angeles police said they would also look into allegations that Mejia fell down a flight of stairs the night of the party.
Mejia said her daughter suffered headaches in the days after the horrific attack, but still went to school.
Juarez, a housekeeper and sole breadwinner, said her daughter had been the victim of bullying for months and that school officials had failed to stop it.
Juarez, a housekeeper and sole breadwinner, said her daughter had been the victim of bullying for months and that school officials had failed to stop it.
The teenager joined Manual Arts High about eight months ago when she moved into a new apartment with her mother and younger brother. After several months at the school, the mother said her daughter began coming home with bruises all over her body, which she thought were from other fights.
Juarez took photos of the injuries to show school officials and campus police, but says nothing was done to resolve the problem. She said her daughter continued to be targeted by bullies and several attacks had been caught on camera.
The mother was not informed of the fight until March 5, after Mejia’s death.
Juarez revealed that the teen’s three-year-old brother was devastated by the news of his sister’s death.
“He’s sad,” Juarez said. “He misses his sister. I just don’t know. I want to die.’
Mejia (right) was at a party days after the attack when she collapsed and rushed to the hospital. She never regained consciousness
Alejandro Macias, principal of the Manual Arts High School, said: “Although this tragic incident took place outside of school hours and off campus, our most sincere thoughts are with those affected by this loss.”
Manual Arts High School Principal Alejandro Macias said, “I am saddened to report the recent death of one of our students off campus.
“On behalf of our entire school community, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to those affected by this loss, including the student’s family, friends and teachers.
Macias requested privacy for those involved in the space and said the school was supportive.
“Although this tragic incident took place outside of school hours and off campus, our heartfelt thoughts are with those affected by this loss,” Macias said.
Although this tragic incident took place outside of school hours and off campus, our most sincere thoughts are with those affected by this loss.
A GoFundMe page was created to help Mejia’s family pay for funeral expenses.
“We are trying to save money to help Shay’s mother with funeral expenses, anything helps, please help us put Shaylee to rest, her death was very tragic for many of us,” can- we read.