Shaquille O'neal Offering To Pay For The Funeral Of Georgia Girl, 12, Who Died After A Fight

Shaquille O'Neal is offering to salary for nan ceremonial of a 12-year-old Georgia woman who died a fewer days aft she collapsed pursuing a conflict aft school.

The erstwhile NBA superstar said he doesn't want nan family of Jada Smith to woody pinch nan financial load of a ceremonial while grieving for nan sixth grader, who died astatine a infirmary March 8.

“As a father, my bosom goes retired to Jayda’s family," O'Neal said successful a statement. “No genitor should ever person to hide their child, and if location is thing I tin do to easiness moreover a mini portion of that burden, past it is nan correct point to do.”

O'Neal's connection was announced successful a associated news merchandise by nan sheriff of Douglas County, wherever nan conflict occurred, and nan sheriff of Henry County, wherever O'Neal owns a location and holds a position arsenic nan sheriff's organization relations chief. Both counties are successful nan Atlanta suburbs.

The girl's decease is being investigated by constabulary successful Villa Rica, astir 30 miles (50 kilometers) westbound of Atlanta. Police opportunity Jada sewage into a fistfight pinch different woman adjacent a vicinity autobus extremity wherever they had been dropped disconnected aft schoolhouse connected March 5. She died astatine a infirmary 3 days later.

Sgt. Spencer Crawford, a constabulary spokesman, has said investigators were reviewing cellphone video of nan conflict posted to societal media that shows Jada and different woman attack each different and statesman throwing punches aft nan schoolhouse autobus leaves. The video shows nan girls autumn to nan crushed earlier an big intervenes. It ends arsenic Jada picks up her backpack and originates to locomotion away.

She ne'er made it home. Sgt. Spencer Crawford, a constabulary spokesman, has said emergency responders were dispatched connected a study of “a young juvenile who was successful cardiac apprehension laying successful nan street.”

Results of an autopsy to find nan origin of decease person not been released.

One of nan girl's aunts, Lindsey McClendon Pettiford, said successful a societal media station that Jada's ceremonial is scheduled for Saturday.