Death of 10-year-old Long Beach girl after fight ruled homicide

The death of Long Beach girl after a fight with a classmate has been ruled a homicide, a coroner’s official said Monday.

Joanna Ramos, 10, died of blunt force trauma to the head, said Ed Winter, assistant chief of the Los Angeles coroner’s office. The trauma resulted from an altercation, Winter said. An autopsy was performed on the girl Sunday following her death late Friday.

Police originally said she was 11, but her birthday is in two weeks.

PHOTOS: Long Beach girl, 10, dies after fight

Authorities were informed Friday afternoon that Joanna wasn’t breathing, and she was pronounced dead shortly before 9 p.m. following efforts to revive her.

Police said Joanna was involved in a fight with another student after classes ended at Willard Elementary. Her family has said the two girls quarrelled 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.

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-- Victoria Kim

Photo: Stephanie Soltero, 10, center, hugs unidentified classmates Monday morning outside Willard Elementary School, which was mourning fifth-grader Joanna Ramos. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times