Shaquille O’Neal offers to pay funeral costs for 12-year-old girl who died after fight at bus stop in Douglas County

Officials said O’Neal, who serves as Chief of Community Relations for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, has offered to cover funeral expenses for Jada West, who died following a violent school bus stop altercation.

O’Neal is working alongside Henry County Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett and Douglas County Sheriff Tim Pounds to help the family as they face financial strain while mourning their loss.

“This story touched my heart the moment I saw it,” O’Neal said. “As a father, my heart goes out to Jada’s family. No parent should ever have to bury their child.”

A woman who identified herself as the girl’s aunt posted videos on Facebook showing the incident and the girl in the hospital — one video appears to show a short fight and everyone walking away, but the aunt said her 12-year-old niece’s heart then stopped on the way home.

He started in the pool, working out five to six days a week, focusing first on losing just five or ten pounds. Over time, those small steps became consistent habits, including strength training, running, and participating in races. He has now completed multiple 5Ks and two 10Ks.

Scott’s transformation was documented in part on the television show “1,000 Pound Best Friends,” where viewers followed his early weight loss efforts, including bariatric surgery in March 2024. But he says the most important change did not happen in the gym or the operating room. It happened when he began focusing on his mental health.

“You have to address the mental side before you are able to be successful,” he said. “Once I was able to do that, the rest is history.”

For years, Scott says he appeared happy in public while privately struggling. Speaking openly about those struggles, he says, changed everything.

“Once you learn to speak up and speak out about what you may be struggling with, it will change your life,” he said. “And you can change the lives of many people around you.”

Another turning point came when he joined the Run with Christ group, a community that meets weekly for runs, events, and fellowship. Scott says the friendships he found there helped him stay motivated and accountable.

“I walked in not knowing a single person,” he said. “Now they are some of my closest friends in life. We do life together.”

The group often draws 80 to 100 runners on Saturday mornings, filling the Beltline with encouragement, accountability, and shared goals. Scott says the experience introduced him to something he had never fully felt before: community.

“By losing weight, I am now experiencing something in life that I haven’t had before. New people. New friends.”

Today, Scott describes himself as being in a “season of saying yes,” embracing opportunities he once thought were impossible. He wants to go skydiving, kayak, and continue running longer races. Most importantly, he hopes his story encourages others who may feel overwhelmed by change.

“Baby steps,” he said. “Take a walk. Five yards, ten yards, fifteen yards. If that’s all you can do, great job. Just start, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Scott says he spent years sharing his struggles publicly, and now he wants to share what is possible on the other side of that journey.

“It may take time,” he said. “But if you put your heart into it, anything is possible.”