Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has vowed to pay the funeral expenses for a 12-year-old girl who died following a fight at a school bus stop in Georgia.
“This story touched my heart the moment I saw it in the media,” O’Neal, 54, said in a statement.
Jada West, a student at Mason Creek Middle School in Winston, Georgia, died three days after a fistfight on March 5 led to her head hitting the pavement near the bus stop. Her mom said she died due to a brain injury.
“As a father, my heart goes out to Jada’s family,” continued O’Neal, who is also serving as chief of community relations for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. “No parent should ever have to bury their child, and if there is anything I can do to ease even a small part of that burden, then it is the right thing to do.”
“Our community must surround this family with love, support, and compassion during such a painful moment,” he added.
West’s death is being investigated by Villa Rica police and potential charges will be determined only after it is complete, ABC News reported. Lawyers representing West’s family told the outlet that there had been “reports of bullying” before the incident.
The family told Atlanta News First that the fight, which lasted for approximately 25 seconds and went viral on social media, led to West going into cardiac arrest after her injury.
“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 Douglas County School District said in a statement.
The statement added that West was “an upbeat, kind and vibrant student” and that counselors were made available to students and staff at the school.
“When a child’s life is taken so tragically, it affects all of us,” Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds said. “Our goal is simple. We want Jada’s family to know that they are not alone and that communities across Georgia stand with them during this incredibly difficult time.”
Police spokesperson Spencer Crawford told reporters on March 11 that officers were dispatched to the scene after hearing a report of a “young juvenile” 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.”
