A 12-year-old Georgia girl dies days after collapsing following a fight
near a school bus stop
[March 12, 2026]
By KATE BRUMBACK and RUSS BYNUM
VILLA RICA, Ga. (AP) — A 12-year-old girl was taken to a hospital and
died days after she collapsed in the street following a fistfight near a
school bus stop in her Georgia neighborhood, according to police.
The death of sixth grader Jada West is being investigated by police in
suburban Villa Rica, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) west of Atlanta.
Sgt. Spencer Crawford, a police spokesman, said Wednesday that
investigators are reviewing evidence, including cellphone video of the
fight, and are awaiting autopsy results. He said police plan to meet
later this 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 Thursday
afternoon, 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.”
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A paper sign left in memory of Jada West stands in her neighborhood
in Villa Rica, Ga., Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Kate
Brumback)
Jada was taken to a hospital. On Sunday, 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.
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.
___
Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia.
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