Shaq To Pay For Funeral Of Girl Who Died During Fight

VILLA RICA, GA — NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal has offered to pay for the funeral of a 12-year-old Georgia girl who died following a recent after-school fight at a bus stop.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday said O'Neal, who currently works as chief of community relations for the Henry County Sheriff's Office, heard about the death of Jada West through news reports and "felt compelled to act."

West died on March 8, days after an off-campus altercation with another female student in a subdivision at Reflective Waters Drive. She attended Mason Creek Middle School in Winston, and the family has said that Jada endured bullying.

A lawsuit has not been officially filed in this incident.

An official cause of death has not been released, but family members told media outlets West suffered a severe brain injury.

Video of the fight went viral online, and West's death has gained national attention.

Villa Rica Police told Patch no charges had been filed in the case as of March 10.

"This story touched my heart the moment I saw it in the media," O'Neal said in a news release. "As a father, my heart goes out to Jada's family. 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."

West, who was new to the neighborhood where the fight took place, had been having trouble with the other girl since moving into the area, according to De'Quala McClendon, who previously identified herself as West's aunt on Facebook.

She said the incident began at the school and escalated to an argument on the school bus.

During the fight, a student ran to West's home to tell her mother what was happening; and Rashunda McClendon reportedly said that is when she ran to the scene and found her daughter on the ground. West died while in the hospital.

RELATED: Deadly School Bus Fight Claims Life Of GA Girl, 12

Her family is being represented by civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels.

With Crump absent due to travel conditions, a news conference was held Monday at Mt. Prospect Baptist Church.

Attorneys say the girl who fought with West was two years older and in a higher grade. They say the incident should have been avoided, and Georgia has a bullying issue.

O'Neal is partnering with Henry County Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett and Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds to financially assist West's family.

"When a child's life is taken so tragically, it affects all of us," Pounds said in the release. "Our goal is simple. We want Jayda's family to know that they are not alone and that communities across Georgia stand with them during this incredibly difficult time."

Authorities say they want West's family to have community support and center themselves on remembering her life and legacy.

"The loss of a child shakes every parent, every community member, and every one of us who serves the public," Scandrett said in the release. "Jada's life mattered, and in times like these, our responsibility is to stand beside families in their darkest moments. We are grateful to Chief Shaquille O'Neal and Sheriff Tim Pounds for joining together to help lift this burden from the West family so they can focus on honoring Jada's life."

A GoFundMe established for West's family has raised nearly $9,000 of its $50,000 goal.