Shaylee Mejia: Bullies brawl California schoolgirl to death, mother blames school for not taking action
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A girl tragically passed away from the grave injuries she suffered during a fight with a bully inside a bathroom that was caught on camera at a Los Angeles high school on March 15.
16-year-old Shaylee Mejia sustained a fatal brain hemorrhage that was reportedly linked to several severe fights she was involved in at Manual Arts High School, Los Angeles, as reported by her devastated mother Maria Juarez to KTLA.
Kids are losing their lives due to bullying in public schools and the schools are hiding it. They’re ignoring the issue and letting it just happen despite parents reporting these incidents to the police.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 21, 2024
16-year-old Shaylee Mejia lost her life after months of prolonged and… pic.twitter.com/GyqwFGuZBI
Shaylee Mejia attended several classes despite the injuries
During the alleged fatal brawl on March 5, Mejia was seen hitting her head on a bathroom stall before falling to the floor.
The teen complained about a headache but still attended classes for several days, per her mother.
She even attended a party four days after the fight, where she fainted and a friend rushed her to the hospital. She remained unconscious until her death on March 15.
According to the outlet, doctors said Mejia suffered a fatal hemorrhage resulting from a brain injury.
Shaylee Mejia often returned home covered in bruises
Juarez, a single mom of two, claimed Mejia often returned home covered in bruises after she enrolled at the public school eight months ago.
The distraught mother allegedly took pictures and documented her daughter’s injuries to report them to school officials and campus police, but her pleas for help reportedly went unheard, according to KTLA.
Juarez, a housekeeper and sole provider for her family, said she only learned about the March 5 fight after her daughter’s death.
Maria Juarez bashed the school for not taking action against the bullies
The grieving mother blamed the tragedy on the school after she reported the videos to the officials and claimed nothing was done with the bullies.
“Everybody knows about my daughter hitting her head, the teachers too,” Juarez told the outlet. “Everybody knows.”
The official cause of death has not yet been made, and an investigation is going on.
Part of the investigation will examine claims that Mejia had fallen a flight of stairs.
Manual Arts High School offers condolences for Shaylee Mejia's demise
“I am saddened to report the recent death of one of our students off campus. On behalf of our entire school community, I want to offer my deepest condolences to those who are impacted by this loss, including the student’s family, friends, and teachers,” Manual Arts High School principal Alejandro Macias said in a statement.
A GoFundMe was created for Juarez to help pay for her daughter’s funeral. “We are trying to save money to help Shay’s mom with the funeral expenses anything helps please help us put Shaylee to rest her death was very tragic to many of us,” the fundraiser page read.
