VILLA RICA, Ga. — A Douglas County community is mourning the death of a 12-year-old middle school student who died days after a fight that began on a school bus and escalated near her home in Villa Rica, authorities and family members said.
Jada West, a student at Mason Creek Middle School, died Sunday at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite after suffering severe injuries following the altercation, according to family members and local reports.
The incident occurred March 5 after school when West got off a bus near her home and became involved in a confrontation with another student. What began as an argument on the bus reportedly escalated into a physical fight in the street shortly after the students exited the bus.
Video circulating on social media appears to show the two girls fighting while other children stand nearby. Authorities say West was able to walk away from the altercation but collapsed moments later while heading home.
A friend ran to alert West’s family, who rushed to the scene.
“When I got there, she was on the ground and she wasn’t breathing,” West’s mother, Rashunda McLendon, told local media as she described the moment she found her daughter unconscious.
West was first transported to Tanner Medical Center before being transferred to Scottish Rite in Atlanta, where she later fell into a coma and died Sunday. Authorities say an autopsy is being conducted to determine the official cause of death.
The Villa Rica Police Department is investigating the incident and reviewing cellphone video of the fight to determine whether criminal charges will be filed. The case will ultimately be presented to the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office for review, police said.
Family members say West had recently transferred to Mason Creek Middle School earlier this year and had reported being bullied since arriving at the school.
The Douglas County School System released a statement expressing condolences to the family and emphasizing that the incident occurred off school property and outside school hours.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of a student at Mason Creek Middle School,” the district said. “She will be remembered by her teachers, classmates and all who knew her.”
School officials said counselors and crisis support teams would be available for students and staff coping with the loss.
Meanwhile, West’s family is searching for answers and calling for accountability.
“We just want justice,” one family member said. “This has got to stop.”
The tragedy has shaken the Villa Rica and Douglas County communities, renewing conversations about bullying, student safety and the growing role of social media in spreading videos of school fights.
As the investigation continues, friends, teachers and neighbors remember West as a kind and loving child whose life ended far too soon.
Authorities have not yet announced whether charges will be filed. The investigation remains ongoing.
