Homicide Report > Joanna Ramos, 10
Joanna Ramos, 10
Died Feb. 24, 2012
Joanna Ramos, a 10-year-old Latina, died Friday, Feb. 24, after suffering blunt-head trauma near East 11th Street and Freeman Avenue in Long Beach, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
Police said Joanna was involved in a fight with another student after classes ended at Willard Elementary. It’s believe the two girls had quarreled over a boy.
Family and friends said the girl vomited and complained of a headache after the fight, but had no visible wounds, according to news reports.
Joanna's aunt, Celina Cervantes, told KTLA-TV Channel 5 that her mother took the girl to the hospital. She underwent surgery and was placed in intensive care.
"My sister-in-law rushed her to the ER, and two hours later she's gone," Cervantes told KTLA. "It's just sad. Very sad."
Officers were informed about 5:50 p.m. Friday that Joanna was not breathing. Although hospital personnel tried to revive her, she was pronounced dead shortly before 9 p.m., authorities said.
Ed Winter, spokesman for the coroner's office, said the girl died from blunt-force trauma to the head. The trauma resulted from an altercation, Winter said.
An autopsy was performed on the girl Sunday following her death late Friday.
Long Beach police on Sunday were trying to determine what happened and said no arrests have been made.
“There are still many questions, many questions that cannot be answered,” said Long Beach Deputy Police Chief Robert Luna.
Anyone with information about the death is asked to contact Long Beach Police homicide at (562) 570-7244. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
— Los Angeles Times
- Neighborhood: Long Beach
- Age: 10
- Gender: Female
- Cause: Blunt force
- Day of the week: Friday
- Agency: Long Beach PD
- Race/Ethnicity: Latino
- Circumstance: Fight
Four reader comments about Joanna Ramos
This story really saddens me to see that little girls at this age would need to fight over boys at this age when girls at this age usually think boys are yucky; times are really changing in so many bad ways where the kids are losing their innocence at a rapid pace due to our society and a sign of our times
Feb. 28, 2012 at 8:49 a.m.
Really sad. Rest in peace Joanna. Why the school officials did not call the ambulance is the big question. You wouldprobably still be alive if they had done the moral and ethical duty to call 911 and have you checked out. Hopefully in the next case the ambulance is called and your death will not be in vain. God Bless your soul and your family in their time of need and sorry. You are now in a better place.
From Denmark, formely lived in LA. Glad to have left!!
Feb. 28, 2012 at 1:47 p.m.
This is a very sad case here. My heart goes out to the little girls family and also to the little girl whom was in the fight as I know her little heart and mind is in pain right now over this as well. I will say until all details are made a fact in her death. There should be no finger pointing.
There are some folks saying that the other little girl involved in the fight should be charged. NO WAY! do not destroy this little girls life. Kids fight every single day and are back friends the next day or even the next hour. She had no intentions on seeing this little girl die as result to a fight.... Another thing I am hearing is ''oh it's the schools fault''. Again, kids fight at school every single day, and as they said in the report, there were no signs of any trauma as you would not expect a punch from a 10 year old girl to cause any type of damage.
This is a extremely rare case. I pray for both families and hope that people don't point blame on anyone unless there are key facts that someone was negligent to cause the death. As for all we know, it could have been surgery gone bad.
March 1, 2012 at 8:38 p.m.
Very sorry for the girl and her parents. At 10 all I could think about was school not boys. This is why I am trying to get out of los angeles and the LA area.
June 12, 2012 at 2:37 a.m.
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