The Douglas County District Attorney's Office will not file criminal charges in the death of 12-year-old Jada West, who collapsed after a brief fight with another middle school student in March near a Villa Rica bus stop.

The fight itself lasted only about 17 seconds, and West died three days later at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Scottish Rite Hospital.

West's family and their attorneys — Harry Daniels, Ben Crump, and Gerald Griggs — had publicly pushed for accountability, with West's mother saying her daughter endured continuous bullying after transferring schools.

The no-charges outcome reverses the narrative that had spread across social media, where unverified claims of a bullying-driven attack drew national attention and even reports that Shaquille O'Neal would cover funeral costs.

Instead, the investigation found the death traced to a medical condition the family may not have known about.

A Georgia Bureau of Investigation autopsy determined West had an underlying genetic heart condition that caused her death.

According to CBS News, Racine said the stress of the argument or fight could have contributed, but there was no definitive medical determination that the incident caused the condition that killed her.

Bus footage detailed a timeline: the bus stopped at railroad tracks at 5:17 p.m., the argument broke out over noise while the driver listened for trains, and the fight occurred between 5:21 and 5:22 p.m., with West striking her head on the roadway.

Racine said investigators could not determine who started the fight, describing it as mutual engagement between two sixth graders.

Interviews with the bus driver, a driver trainee, 12 students, and a bystander found no evidence West and the other student, referred to as "J.S.", had ever interacted before — no shared classes, no documented prior incidents confirmed by the school principal, and no ongoing conflict.

WSB-TV reports West's attorney identified the condition as Long QT syndrome, which he said is exacerbated by physical exertion.

The fallout from the case extended beyond the courtroom. Racine said false social media narratives led to multiple threats against J.S., her family, and adult witnesses, ultimately forcing J.S.'s family to leave Douglas County entirely.

"Members of the public can seek answers while allowing investigators and medical professionals to establish the facts and without threats toward those connected to an incident," Racine said.

Atlanta News First reports J.S.'s mother, a registered nurse, performed lifesaving measures on West without initially knowing her daughter had fought her.

West's family, through their attorneys, said they were "incredibly disappointed" by the decision, arguing in a statement that "Jada's genetic condition was exacerbated because she was attacked at the school bus stop" and that "if she hadn't been attacked, Jada would be alive with us today."